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IAEA Says Chornobyl’s New Confinement Lost Primary Safety Functions After Drone Strike

Inspectors report a stable, monitored structure with no radiation release detected, and call for 2026 interim repairs before full restoration when security conditions allow.

Overview

  • An IAEA team completed a safety assessment last week confirming the New Safe Confinement no longer provides its core protections, including confinement of radioactive material.
  • The February 14 strike damaged the outer cladding and sparked a fire; Ukraine attributes the attack to Russia, which denies responsibility.
  • Inspectors found no permanent damage to load‑bearing elements or monitoring systems, and site measurements have shown stable radiation levels with no leaks.
  • The agency urges comprehensive restoration measures such as humidity control, an updated corrosion‑monitoring program, and upgrades to the original sarcophagus’s automatic monitoring system.
  • Limited roof repairs have been done; additional temporary repairs are planned in 2026 with EBRD support, and the IAEA’s permanent team will continue oversight as full restoration awaits improved security conditions.