Chernobyl NPP Warns Protective Sarcophagus May Not Withstand New Russian Strike
Chernobyl NPP Director Sergei Tarakanov stated that a new strike from Russia could lead to the collapse of the internal radiation shelter on the station's territory. He reported this in an interview with AFP, as reported by France24.com.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of shelling the Chernobyl zone. Earlier this year, one of the strikes damaged the outer shell of the protective sarcophagus, after which the IAEA stated that the structure had lost its main safety functions.
According to Sergei Tarakanov, the full restoration of the protective structure could take three to four years. He warned that even a missile or drone strike near the shelter could cause a localized seismic impact, threatening the collapse of the internal structure. According to him, ballistic missiles of the "Iskander" type, capable of destroying reinforced objects, pose a particular danger.
The Chernobyl NPP is covered by two protective structures: an internal sarcophagus of concrete and steel, erected immediately after the 1986 accident, and a modern outer shell — the "New Safe Confinement." In February this year, a Russian drone seriously damaged the roof of the outer structure, which led to a fire.
Tarakanov noted that the outer sarcophagus has partially lost its key functions. The hole from the drone was temporarily covered with a protective screen, but there are still about 300 small openings made during firefighting, which also need to be addressed.
After its inspection, the IAEA confirmed that the main supporting elements and monitoring systems were not irreversibly damaged, however, the radiation isolation function is weakened. At the same time, according to the station's director, radiation levels in the Chernobyl zone remain stable and within normal limits.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russian troops from the territory of Belarus captured the Chernobyl NPP, but were forced to leave it a few weeks later.
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