Overview
- An IAEA inspection last week confirmed the steel arch over reactor 4 has lost its primary safety functions, including containment, following a February 14 drone strike that caused a fire and damaged the outer cladding.
- Inspectors reported no permanent damage to load‑bearing structures or monitoring systems and no detected increase in radiation or radioactive release to date.
- The agency calls for comprehensive restoration that includes humidity control, an updated corrosion‑monitoring program, and modernization of the automated surveillance system.
- Temporary repair work backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is planned for 2026 as an interim step toward full restoration once conditions allow.
- Ukrainian authorities attribute the strike to Russia, which denies responsibility, as nuclear‑safety concerns grow with continued attacks on critical infrastructure.