The initial work to restore the protective arch of the fourth reactor block of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged as a result of a Russian drone attack, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
This is reported by Kyiv24
International Support and Assessment of the Confinement’s Condition
According to Serhiy Kondratenko, Deputy Technical Director for Infrastructure at the State Specialized Enterprise Chernobyl NPP, Ukraine has signed a grant agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. As part of this agreement, international partners are financing the restoration of the New Safe Confinement (NSC), which was damaged in February 2025 after a drone strike by Russia. The EBRD has engaged experts from the French companies Bouygues Travaux Publics and VINCI Construction Grands Projets, which previously designed and built the NSC, for a comprehensive analysis of the technical condition of the structure and the technological systems of the Arch.
Condition of the Facility After the Attack and Security Situation
A mission from the IAEA, which visited Chernobyl at the end of November, confirmed that the New Safe Confinement has lost some of its design functions due to damage. As a result of the fire caused by the drone strike, the waterproofing was destroyed and the membrane that ensured the airtightness of the outer shell of the arch was damaged. To extinguish the fire, emergency responders from the State Emergency Service created 130 openings in the outer cladding of the confinement, covering an area of about 130 square meters, through which moisture can enter and potentially cause corrosion of the metal structures.
Despite these circumstances, according to Kondratenko, the level of radiation safety at the station remains under control. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has prohibited work that could lead to the formation of radiation-hazardous dust clouds.
“From February 14 to today, the radiation situation has not exceeded established control levels. There are no unacceptable emissions into the atmosphere through the created openings,” he emphasizes, explaining that the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has prohibited planned work that could result in the formation of radiation-hazardous dust clouds.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that the Chernobyl sarcophagus requires additional repairs. According to him, temporary limited repairs have been made to the roof, but comprehensive restoration of the structure is necessary to ensure long-term nuclear safety.
The IAEA recommends further work to restore and protect the confinement. In particular, this includes implementing measures to control humidity, updating the corrosion monitoring program, and modernizing the integrated automatic monitoring system for the shelter facility that was built over the reactor after the accident.