The liquidation of the consequences of the Russian drone strike at the Chornobyl NPP continues for the fifth day
18 February 2025 12:58
On the morning of Tuesday, February 18, the response to the consequences of a Russian drone hitting the sarcophagus at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant continues. Rescuers have been extinguishing the fire for five days. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
It is noted that the state of radiation is under constant control, and fluctuations in current values are within the usual limits for each point.
Damage to the Arch
The inspection of the NSC Arch revealed the following damage:
External cladding of the Arch:
- Through damage up to an area of approximately 15 m².
- Defects in the lining.
- Damage to the internal filler of the cladding.
- Destruction of bolted connections.
Supporting structures of the garage:
- Deformation of the joints of the structures of the upper part of the maintenance garage.
Radiation monitoring and safety
The radiation background in the Chornobyl NPP control area does not exceed permissible values and is within normal limits. All changes are monitored in real time. Data on the radiation situation is available to the public on the web resource of the Ministry of Environment “EcoThreat”.
Russian strike on the Chornobyl sarcophagus
On February 14, a Russian attack drone with an explosive warhead hit the shelter that protects the world from radiation from the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
on February 16, representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the Chernobyl nuclear power plant’s shelter. During the inspection, the IAEA team noted that the outer and inner shells of the arch had been damaged by a drone attack. A hole with a diameter of about 6 meters was formed there, and some equipment and electrical cables were also damaged. However, the support beams were not significantly damaged.
Repairs are expected to begin when the fire is completely out.
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What is known about the Chornobyl sarcophagus
As a reminder, the sarcophagus built over the exploded fourth power unit was gradually collapsing, which could have led to a catastrophe. In March 2004, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced a tender for the design, construction and commissioning of a new sarcophagus for the Chornobyl NPP.
The main function of the new arch is to limit the spread of radioactive substances contained in the Shelter. This condition must be met both in normal operation and in the event of an accident (destruction) of the existing Shelter. The project envisages that the new structure will be operated for 100 years.
The new sarcophagus at the Chornobyl NPP was built by about 3,000 workers starting in April 2012. The builders worked in shifts to avoid exceeding the permissible radiation dose. Almost three billion dollars were allocated for its construction by the European Union and the United States. The new sarcophagus was put into operation in July 2019.
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