- A drone strike on Chernobyl’s New Safe Confinement damaged both outer and inner layers, causing a six-meter hole and equipment damage, but radiation levels remained normal and the structural support beams were largely unaffected.
- Firefighters worked over the weekend to extinguish smoldering insulation, delaying repair efforts, while the IAEA condemned the attack and expressed concerns over rising military activity near Ukraine’s nuclear sites.
Firefighters Battle Smoldering Roof Insulation After Drone Strike at Chernobyl
Firefighters worked through the weekend to combat smoldering roof insulation on the massive shelter covering Chernobyl’s Unit 4 after a drone strike on Friday. Despite the attack, radiation levels in the area remain normal, and the original protective structure inside the shelter sustained no damage.
According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES), three groups of climbers were deployed to tackle multiple smoldering areas on the roof of the New Safe Confinement (NSC). As of Saturday afternoon, 84 personnel were on-site, working to douse the insulation and prevent the fire from spreading further.
The strike damaged approximately 15 square meters of the NSC’s external cladding at a height of 87 meters, with broader “sheathing defects” covering an estimated 200 square meters. Both the outer and inner layers of the structure sustained damage, though the structural support beams appeared largely unaffected.
International Response and Concerns
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which maintains experts at Chernobyl, confirmed that the attack caused a six-meter hole in the NSC’s arch, damaging electrical cables and some equipment. The IAEA noted that firefighting efforts had delayed the start of repair work on the shelter.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi condemned the attack, stating, “This was clearly a very serious incident, with a drone hitting and damaging a large protective structure at a major nuclear site. As I have stated repeatedly during this devastating war, attacking a nuclear facility is an absolute no-go. It should never happen.” He also expressed concern over rising military activity near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Background on the New Safe Confinement
Chernobyl’s Unit 4 was destroyed in the catastrophic 1986 nuclear accident. In response, a hastily built protective shelter was erected to contain the reactor’s remains, including an estimated 200 tonnes of highly radioactive material. However, this structure was not intended for long-term use.
To ensure safety for future generations, the NSC—the largest movable land-based structure ever built—was constructed to encase the original shelter. Spanning 257 meters, with a length of 162 meters and a height of 108 meters, the NSC was designed to last approximately 100 years. It was built in two halves and moved into position along specially designed rail tracks, with final construction completed in 2019.
The NSC features a dual-layer cladding system, with about 12 meters separating its inner and outer layers. It was engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, tornadoes, and earthquakes, and its purpose is to facilitate the eventual dismantling of the original 1986 shelter and the management of radioactive waste.
Ongoing Conflict and Attribution
Chernobyl lies about 80 miles north of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and 12 miles south of Belarus. Ukraine has blamed Russia for the drone strike, while Russia has denied responsibility and accused Ukraine of orchestrating the attack. The IAEA has refrained from assigning blame to either side throughout the war.
With military tensions escalating in the region, concerns persist over the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. The IAEA remains committed to monitoring the situation and preventing a potential nuclear disaster.
