Cleanup of Russian drone strike damage at Chornobyl NPP completed, monitoring continues

This was reported by Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

According to Environmental Protection Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, at 12:00 PM today, the smoldering of the protective shell’s filler was successfully stopped.

Emergency services will continue to monitor the Chornobyl NPP site, conducting radiation and thermal imaging inspections.

"Our next task is to conduct a thorough analysis of the damage to the NSC Arch and restore its functionality," the minister added.

Russian drone strike on Chornobyl NPP reactor unit

On the night of February 14, a Russian drone carrying an explosive warhead struck the shelter of the 4th reactor unit of the Chornobyl NPP, causing significant damage. The next day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to discuss the incident, while Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy urged the IAEA to intensify efforts to prevent future attacks on nuclear facilities.

On February 16, representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspected the shelter facility at Chornobyl NPP. Their assessment confirmed that the drone attack damaged both the outer and inner shells of the protective arch, leaving a hole approximately six meters in diameter. Some equipment and electrical cables were also damaged, but the structural support beams remained largely intact.

Repairs on the shelter are expected to begin once the fire is fully extinguished. Meanwhile, IAEA representatives confirmed Ukrainian authorities' reports that radiation levels at the site remain unchanged.

On February 17, three new smoldering areas were detected in the insulation layer of the plant’s roof, and work to extinguish them has been ongoing.

The Ukrainian government has allocated over 1.5 billion UAH to maintain the Chornobyl NPP shelter in a safe condition.

Additionally, €400 million from the Chornobyl International Cooperation Account will be used to study the damage to the NSC Arch.