A protective shield covering the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine can no longer provide its main containment function following a drone strike earlier this year, according to a UN watchdog.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors found that the massive structure, built over the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost its primary safety functions including the confinement capability.
In February, Ukraine accused Russia of targeting the power plant - a claim the Kremlin denied.
The IAEA said repairs were essential to prevent further degradation of the nuclear shelter. However, environmental expert Jim Smith reassured that it is not something to panic about.
Prof Smith, from the University of Portsmouth, emphasized that the main danger linked to the site was the disturbance of radioactive dust. Yet, he noted that the risk is low due to the containment within a thick concrete sarcophagus that the protective shield covers.
The 1986 explosion at Chernobyl released massive amounts of radioactive materials into the atmosphere, prompting a public health emergency across Europe.
The former Soviet Union constructed a sarcophagus over the reactor, which was only intended to last for 30 years, necessitating the addition of the protective shell to prevent radioactive leakage for the next century.
The IAEA recently completed an assessment of the site after it was damaged by the drone strike, which ignited a fire in the outer cladding of the steel structure. Fortunately, there has been no permanent damage to the shell’s load-bearing structures or monitoring systems, although some repairs had been made to the roof.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi underlined the necessity of timely and comprehensive restoration to ensure long-term nuclear safety.
In December, the UN's nuclear watchdog has also been inspecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict with Russia. As such, assessments of electrical substations critical for nuclear safety are concurrently being conducted.
