IAEA sends team to evaluate Chernobyl’s condition
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is dispatching technicians to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine to examine the status of a protective steel structure built over the damaged reactor after the 1986 disaster.
This protective shell, known as the New Safe Confinement, was constructed in 2016 and reportedly sustained damage from a Russian drone strike in February 2025.
According to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, while there was no release of radioactive material from the incident, it inflicted considerable structural harm that compromised the shell’s intended function and lifespan.
Russia has denied responsibility for the drone strike, attributing it instead to Ukraine and suggesting it was an attempt to disrupt ongoing peace talks.
The attack resulted in a fire that was quickly controlled but revealed significant damage to the New Safe Confinement, including approximately 330 breaches in its outer layer. Fortunately, radiation levels at the site have remained stable.
The IAEA has indicated that extensive repairs are necessary for the New Safe Confinement, with some experts recommending its replacement due to its original design intended for a century of protection.
During their mission, IAEA officials will assess current risk mitigation strategies and discuss plans for restoring functionality to the protective shell while addressing any nuclear safety issues.
The IAEA also reported that electricity generation at Ukraine’s three operational nuclear plants—Khmelnytskyy, Rivne, and South Ukraine—has mostly returned to normal following military strikes on electrical infrastructure last week. Nearly all power units are now functioning at full capacity, with only one unit operating at reduced output. Additionally, all high-voltage power lines affected by these attacks have been restored.
