Chernobyl dome damaged by drone strike, IAEA warns as repairs are urgent

The New Safe Confinement, the dome built over Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl site, has suffered damage in a February drone strike, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said this month. A safety assessment conducted by the IAEA found the protective shelter had lost its primary safety function of confinement, though the main structure and monitoring systems remained intact.

Beneath the damaged shelter lie substantial quantities of radioactive material from the 1986 disaster. The IAEA cautioned that the damage could undermine containment, raising the risk of leakage if the structure degrades further. Limited temporary repairs have been carried out on the roof, but timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety, the agency noted.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the safety assessment confirmed the dome’s confinement capability had been compromised and urged urgent repairs and upgrades. In particular, he highlighted the need for better humidity control, advanced corrosion monitoring, and a high-tech automatic system to keep the radioactive reactor remains under control. Grossi added that the substations feeding cooling and safety systems are essential for nuclear safety and security, as well as for distributing the electricity that power plants produce to households and industry.

This inspection is the latest in a series of expert missions since September last year, prompted by the broader military conflict that has affected the site’s infrastructure. Officials stressed that the NSC remains a critical safety feature requiring restoration before full restoration can be considered.

In 2026, with support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Chornobyl site will undertake additional temporary repairs to support the re-establishment of the NSC’s confinement function, paving the way for full restoration once the conflict ends. The IAEA, which maintains a permanent team at the site, said it will continue to support efforts to restore nuclear safety and security at Chornobyl.

The Chernobyl disaster began on April 26, 1986, when an explosion at Reactor 4 released the largest amount of radioactive material in a single incident. Immediate fatalities were in the low dozens, but long-term health impacts remain a subject of study. Following the catastrophe, large-scale evacuations created the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), a region that has since served as a stark reminder of the perils of nuclear accidents. The zone has seen wildlife rebound in the absence of human habitation, though radiation levels persist. The CEZ’s current radiation exposure measures around 11.28 millirem, six times higher than the allowed exposure for nuclear workers.

Separately, scientific investigations into life in the CEZ have yielded notable findings about adaptation to extreme conditions. A 2023 study led by Norman J. Kleiman of Columbia University examined 116 stray dogs living in and around the CEZ. The researchers identified nearly 400 outlier loci—genomic regions showing unusual variation—and linked 52 genes to potential adaptations arising from chronic exposure to the zone’s contaminants. The work, published in Canine Medicine and Genetics in March 2023, suggested that the dogs’ environment may drive genetic changes that help them cope with pollution and radiation exposure. A 2024 report highlighted that some CEZ dogs appear unusually resilient, raising questions about the limits and pace of natural adaptation in highly contaminated habitats.

The IAEA emphasized that continued monitoring and timely repairs are essential to avoid a deterioration of safety conditions at the site. While the main dome remains structurally intact, the agency stressed that containment is the linchpin of long-term nuclear safety at Chernobyl and must be restored to full function as soon as feasible.