Chernobyl's Protective Shield Can No Longer Confine Radiation, UN Nuclear Watchdog Says

'A structure designed to prevent radioactive leakage at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine is no longer operational,' reports Politico, 'after Russian drones targeted it earlier this year, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog has found.'

[T]he large steel structure 'lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability' when its outer cladding was set ablaze after being struck by Russian drones, according to a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Beyond that, there was 'no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems,' it said. '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,' IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in astatement.


The Guardian has pictures of the protective shield — incuding the damage from the drone strike. The shield is the world's largest movable land structure, reports CNN:

The IAEA, which has a permanent presence at the site, will 'continue to do everything it can to support efforts to fully restore nuclear safety and security,' Grossi said.... Built in 2010 and completed in 2019, it was designed to last 100 years and has played a crucial role in securing the site.
The project cost €2.1 billion and was funded by contributions from more than 45 donor countries and organizations through the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which in 2019 hailed the venture as 'the largest international collaboration ever in the field of nuclear safety.'

Read more of this story at Slashdot.