Chornobyl NPP sarcophagus at risk of collapse: plant director warns of critical risks
23 December 22:18
After the damage caused at the beginning of the year, the protective structure over the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant remains extremely vulnerable, and a new Russian shelling could lead to its destruction. This was stated by the director of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Serhiy Tarakanov, in an interview with the AFP agency, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
At the same time, he said, the radiation background at the facility is currently stable and within normal limits, despite the fact that the sarcophagus has already lost some of its protective functions.
What happened to the protective structure
Earlier this year, a Russian strike penetrated the outer shell of the radiation shielding, after which the IAEA warned that the facility had lost its key safety functions.
The hole caused by the drone strike was temporarily covered with a protective shield. However, according to Tarakanov, about 300 more small holes made by firefighters while extinguishing the fire still need to be repaired.
According to Tarakanov, the full restoration of the protective structure could take three to four years, and a new shelling could cause the destruction of the internal sarcophagus.
Why the sarcophagus may not withstand another attack
As Tarakanov explained, the danger is not only a direct hit from a missile or drone, but also a strike near the site. Even an indirect hit can cause seismic vibrations that the structure may not be able to withstand.
“If a missile or drone hits the sarcophagus directly or falls nearby – for example, an Iskander, God forbid – it could cause a mini-earthquake. No one can guarantee that the protective structure will stand up after that,” said the ChNPP director.
He also emphasized that Iskander ballistic missiles are designed to hit fortified and bunker targets, so their use near the exclusion zone poses a critical threat to nuclear safety.
What is the sarcophagus and the New Safe Confinement?
The remains of ChNPP Unit 4 are covered by two levels of protection:
- an internal sarcophagus made of steel and concrete, hastily built after the 1986 accident;
- an external high-tech structure – the New Safe Confinement (NSC).
Russian occupation forces seized the Chornobyl NPP at the beginning of the invasion in 2022, but later abandoned the site. Since then, the exclusion zone has been repeatedly threatened by missile strikes and drone attacks.
In February 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a Russian drone had hit the protective dome of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. As a result, the New Safe Confinement (NSC) suffered significant damage.
“Our NSC has lost several of its main functions. We understand that it will take at least three to four years to restore them,” Tarakanov explained.
Despite the fact that no increase in the radiation background was recorded, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that the sarcophagus lost key safety functions after the impact.
In particular, we are talking about
- reduced ability to contain hazardous materials inside;
- damage to the integrity of certain elements of the protective structure.
Actions of international experts
After the attack, the IAEA sent an additional group of experts to the Chornobyl NPP. The experts are conducting a comprehensive inspection of the damaged New Safe Confinement, which was hit by a drone strike on February 14, 2025.
The purpose of the mission is to assess
- the current technical condition of the sarcophagus;
- the level of risks in case of repeated attacks;
- necessary measures to prevent a radiation threat.
Why the situation around Chornobyl remains dangerous
Experts emphasize that although the radiation background is now under control, the very presence of hostilities and missile strikes near a nuclear facility of global importance creates unprecedented risks.
Any new damage could have unpredictable consequences not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.
