Structural weaknesses have emerged in the protective shield over Chernobyl's destroyed Reactor 4 following a February 2025 drone strike, raising significant long-term concerns about the security of the site and the durability of its containment systems.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has maintained a presence at the site since the invasion of Ukraine, reported that the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure no longer fulfils its 'primary safety functions' after the attack. The announcement came after months of inspections, monitoring and damage assessments that revealed deeper complications than initially believed.
