The United States will release up to 100 million dollars (85 million euros) for the restoration of the sarcophagus above the exploded nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine. That protective layer was damaged last year by a Russian drone.
Remi Lehmann
Journalist at HLN
Source: Belga
“The NSC dome can do without repairs (the New Safe Confinement or the new sarcophagus above the reactor, ed.) no longer provide adequate protection, raising the specter of a dangerous leak of highly radioactive material in Europe,” the US State Department said.
40 years ago, reactor 4 of the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in the then Soviet Republic of Ukraine, exploded
“We call on our G7 and European partners to follow suit and make substantial financial commitments to share the burden of these essential repairs,” the ministry said.
After an inspection by the UN atomic watchdog IAEA, it was determined in December last year that the sarcophagus, which cost 1.5 billion euros to build, “is no longer radiation-tight” since the drone attack.
The fact that no radiation is released is thanks to the original sarcophagus that was built in 1986. Although emergency repairs have been carried out, IAEA chief executive Rafael Grossi warned at the time that a “comprehensive restoration is essential” to prevent worse.
In a report in mid-April 2026, NGO Greenpeace also stated that the new envelope could not be fully repaired. “This increases the risk of radioactivity leakage into the environment, especially in the event of collapse of the old sarcophagus under the new casing.”
40 years ago, reactor 4 of the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in the then Soviet Republic of Ukraine, exploded. The nuclear disaster was the worst in history. The remains were enveloped in a steel and concrete structure, built hastily after the disaster. The new sarcophagus was added above this in 2016.
