Chernobyl radiation shield ‘lost safety function’ after drone strike, UN watchdog says

The shield covering Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear reactor can no longer provide its primary containment function after a drone strike earlier this year, according to a U.N. watchdog.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors found that the massive building, built at the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost “key safety features, including isolation capabilities.”

In February, Ukraine accused Russia of targeting the power plant, a claim the Kremlin denied.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said the repair work was “vital” in order to “prevent further degradation” of the nuclear bunker. However, environmental expert Jim Smith told the BBC: “This is not a cause for alarm.”

Professor Smith from the University of Portsmouth in the UK, who has studied the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, said the biggest danger associated with the site was disturbing radioactive fallout.

But he said the “risk was low” because the contaminated dust was contained within a thick concrete “sarcophagus” and covered by a protective shield.

The 1986 Chernobyl explosion spewed radioactive material into the air, sparking a public health emergency across Europe.

In response, the Soviet Union built sarcophagi over nuclear reactors.

The service life of the sarcophagus is only 30 years, so a protective casing is needed to prevent the leakage of radioactive materials for the next 100 years.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said a team last week completed a security assessment of the site after it was “severely damaged” by a drone strike. The attack caused the outer steel structure to catch fire.

Inspectors said there was no permanent damage to the shell’s load-bearing structure or surveillance systems, and some repairs were made to the roof.

But IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said: “Timely and comprehensive recovery remains critical to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear security.”

The United Nations nuclear watchdog has been assessing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since early December as the country continues to defend itself against Russia.

overnight, Russia launches air strikes on Kremenchuk citya major industrial center in central Ukraine.

In addition to assessing Chernobyl, the IAEA has also been inspecting substations related to nuclear safety.

Mr Grossi said: “They are absolutely indispensable for providing the power needed for reactor cooling and other safety systems in all nuclear power plants.

“They also need to distribute the electricity they produce to households and industry.”