The new confinement structure over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) no longer performs its main protective functions.
Modern.az reports that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has issued a statement regarding this. The Agency recently conducted an inspection of the facility and completed the assessment of damages caused by a drone strike in February.
According to IAEA findings, the confinement structure's ability to contain potential radioactive leaks has been virtually lost. Although preliminary and temporary repair work has been carried out on some of the damage, the Agency recommends continuing efforts for the full restoration of the confinement structure.
It should be recalled that in February 2022, the Russian army entered the Chernobyl exclusion zone in the first hours of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian units withdrew, considering that fighting in an area with high radiation risk could lead to severe consequences.
The presence of Russian military personnel within the zone, particularly in the “Red Forest,” one of the most contaminated areas, led to radioactive dust being stirred into the air and short-term spikes in radiation levels. The Ukrainian side and international experts assessed this as a clear violation of nuclear safety norms.
Following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the area, Ukrainian and IAEA experts regularly record the consequences of fighting and incidental shelling around the plant. Although no direct damage to the reactors themselves has been recorded, the existence of risks to the infrastructure ensuring the safe maintenance of the facility remains a serious concern for the international community.
