The protective shield built over Reactor 4 in Chernobyl has cracked, raising fears that the deadly radiation could begin to leak.
After the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986, a $2 billion protective shield, officially known as the New Safe Confinement (NSC), was built over Reactor 4 to contain the radiation.
For context, the World Nuclear Association describes the Chernobyl nuclear disaster as an accident in 1986 that was the result of a flawed reactor design, operated with inadequately trained personnel.
According to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a Russian drone strike in February revealed severely damaged dome, which has already lost its primary safety functions.
A safety assessment conducted earlier this month found that while the dome remains intact and its monitoring systems are working, it has lost its containment capability.
IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi called for the need for a comprehensive restoration process to ensure long-term nuclear safety.
The agency has also proposed upgrades to the shield, equipping it with:
- Advanced corrosion monitoring
- A high-tech automatic system to keep the radioactive reactor under control
- Improved humidity control
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has put the facility at high risk.
Grossi said the IAEA will do everything in its power to support and restore nuclear safety and security at the Chernobyl nuclear site.
Additional temporary repairs to the site are scheduled to take place in 2026.
