The protective structure encasing the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has suffered a compromise in its “safety function” following a drone strike earlier this year, according to the United Nations’ nuclear monitoring agency.
The protective shield, a project completed in 2019 at a cost of €1.5 billion through a Europe-led initiative, was designed to cover the original concrete sarcophagus built after the 1986 disaster. Ukrainian prosecutors have stated that the shield was damaged in February by a Russian Shahed drone strike.
An inspection conducted recently by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that the drone impact had caused degradation to the steel structure of the protective shield.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the inspection “confirmed that the (protective structure) had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, but also found that there was no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems.”
Grossi further commented that while some repairs have been undertaken, “comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety.”
Authorities in Kyiv reported that the drone, carrying a high-explosive warhead, struck the shield, leading to a fire and damage to some of the protective cladding surrounding the reactor. Moscow has denied any involvement in an attack on the plant.
In February, the UN reported that radiation levels remained normal and there were no indications of any radiation leaks following the incident.
The 1986 Chernobyl explosion resulted in widespread radiation contamination across Europe.
Following the disaster, Soviet authorities constructed a concrete sarcophagus over the damaged reactor in an attempt to contain the impact of the meltdown. This structure was designed to last for approximately 30 years.
The new, multilayered confinement building, reaching a height of over 100 meters at its peak, was constructed to contain the melted-down nuclear fuel that remains beneath the original sarcophagus.
Heightened Concerns
Ongoing combat operations around Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, particularly the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the southern region, have raised significant concerns. Zaporizhzhia is the largest nuclear facility in Europe.
The Zaporizhzhia plant has been relying on diesel backup generators since September 23, when its last remaining external power line was severed.
In October, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced concerns regarding safety risks at Zaporizhzhia, noting that the backup generators had been operating for an unprecedented duration.
“The generators and the plant were not designed for this,” Zelenskyy stated, describing the situation as “critical.”
The plant is situated in an area under Russian occupation since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is currently not operational. However, it requires a reliable power supply to cool its six shutdown reactors and spent nuclear fuel to prevent potentially catastrophic nuclear accidents.
The situation at Zaporizhzhia and Chernobyl highlights the precariousness of nuclear facilities in conflict zones. The need for continuous power supply is paramount to prevent meltdowns and radiation leaks. The loss of external power forces reliance on emergency diesel generators, which, while a crucial backup, are not designed for prolonged use.
Grossi emphasized that emergency diesel generators are intended as the “last line of defence” for cooling nuclear reactors, but their frequent use has become “an all too common occurrence.”
The repeated reliance on backup power at Zaporizhzhia underscores the fragility of the situation. Each power outage increases the risk of a nuclear incident, making the restoration of a stable external power supply a top priority.
“As long as this devastating conflict goes on, nuclear safety and security remains under severe threat. Today, we had some rare positive news to report, but we are far from being out of the woods yet,” Grossi concluded.
The incidents at Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia serve as stark reminders of the potential consequences of military activity near nuclear facilities. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the need for all parties to ensure the safety and security of these critical sites. The long-term implications of the damage to the Chernobyl protective structure are still being assessed, but the incident highlights the vulnerability of even well-protected nuclear sites in the context of modern warfare. Securing these facilities and preventing future incidents is of utmost importance to prevent another nuclear disaster.
