Greenpeace visits Chornobyl after Russian drone attack damages new safe confinement

This was reported by the press service of Greenpeace Ukraine.

A representative of the Chornobyl NPP, Artem Siry, informed the Greenpeace team that, due to the Russian drone attack, 50% of the northern roof was damaged, as well as the southern roof and side walls of the station. The materials covering the roof, as well as important structures, including the crane system, were damaged. There is a risk of corrosion due to snow and water entering under the arch of the Chornobyl NSC. As a result of these damages, the structure no longer meets the design requirements and licensing standards.

Greenpeace emphasized that the intentional strike on Chornobyl NSC could be one of the most severe war crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine.

"The Chornobyl NSC was built at vast cost by the international community to protect the environment from the radioactive materials inside. It was also to allow the careful dismantlement of the Chornobyl sarcophagus and reactor over a period of at least 100 years. It is early in the damage analysis process, but the initial assessment is that the entire project’s future is uncertain at best," said Jan Vande Putte, nuclear energy specialist at Greenpeace Ukraine.

"Due to the high radiation levels above the sarcophagus, it is very likely that the entire Chornobyl NSC will need to be moved back to the place where it was built by rail before any repairs can be made, which would cost an enormous amount," he added.

Additionally, Greenpeace reached out to former British military specialists from McKenzie Intelligence Services to assess the attack on Chornobyl.

The organization called on the EU to impose new comprehensive sanctions on Russia, including against the corporation Rosatom, which is involved in the crime.

• A Russian drone with a fragmentation warhead hit the shelter of the 4th reactor unit at Chornobyl NSC on the night of February 14th. As a result, it was significantly damaged. The following day, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, met with the Director-General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, to discuss the incident at Chornobyl NSC. The Ministry of Energy called on the IAEA to intensify efforts to prevent attacks on nuclear facilities.