IAEA reports extensive damage to Chernobyl's new containment after drone attack

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has revealed the significant consequences of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strike on the protective sarcophagus of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

The strike caused a large hole to form in the roof of the new containment structure and triggered a fire that continued to smoulder for over two weeks.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi shared these details in a statement released on the agency's official website, per Caliber.Az.

"A drone attack in the early hours of February 14 punched a large hole in the roof of the new containment structure and triggered fires inside, which persisted for more than two weeks," Grossi stated.

Fortunately, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control. However, Grossi emphasized that the fire caused significant damage to the containment, particularly to its northern section. As a result, substantial repairs will be required to restore the new containment at Chornobyl's Unit 4.

Despite the damage, Grossi assured that radiation levels remained unaffected by the incident. "All radiation monitoring results show no increase in radiation levels," he noted.

The UAV, carrying high-explosive munitions, struck the sarcophagus at Chornobyl on February 14. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the drone was of Russian origin and described the damage to the sarcophagus as “significant.” 

The protective structure covers the remains of the fourth unit of Chornobyl NPP, which exploded in 1986, causing the largest nuclear disaster in history and resulting in numerous casualties.

Following the explosion, a temporary sarcophagus was built around the destroyed reactor by the end of 1986. In 2019, a modern, more durable confinement structure was completed to contain the radioactive ruins inside. Despite the containment, the remains of the reactor continue to emit significant radiation levels.