Russia has fired missiles near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine as Kyiv's state prosecutor warns this could spark a nuclear disaster. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko toldReutersthis amounted to Russian terror. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) watchdog has previouslywarned that such attacks risk a "nuclear accident".
A February 2025 drone strike severely damaged the New Safe Confinement (NSC) shield at Chernobyl, causing it to lose its primary containment function. While radiation levels remain stable and no radioactive material was immediately released, the damage tothe structure covering the 1986 disaster siteposes significant long-term nuclear safety risks that require immediate repair.
READ MORE:Russia arrests dozens of Israelis for being 'enemies of Iran'
READ MORE:NATO fighter jets scrambled after Russian planes 'violate' airspace
The strike damaged the outer cladding of the NSC, resulting in roughly 330 openings and impacting the crane system used for maintenance.
This means the structure has lost its abilityto properly confine radioactive dust particles, which is the main safety function of the dome.
GreenpeaceUkrainehas also warned of the impending collapse of the Chernobyl sarcophagus, or Object Shelter.
This is a massive, hastily built steel and concrete structure completed in November 1986 to enclose the destroyed Reactor 4, containing roughly 200 tonnes of radioactive fuel and debris.
Due to rapid construction and structural instability, it was replaced by the 108-metre NSC in 2016.
A report from the charity found that the sarcophagus could collapse if urgent repairs to the NSC are not carried out, as it cannot be dismantled due tothe damage it sustained in the Russian strike.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
