A Russian strike could cause the internal radiation shelter at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power station to collapse, the plant’s director has warned.
Sergiy Tarakanov told AFP that another direct or nearby hit could trigger vibrations strong enough to bring down the inner structure protecting the remains of the reactor that exploded in 1986. He said a missile or drone strike, including from Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile system, could create a “mini-earthquake” in the area.
Earlier this year, a Russian drone strike punched a hole in the outer New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure, damaging its roof and sparking a fire. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned at the time that the shelter had lost its primary safety functions.
Tarakanov said restoring the NSC would take at least three to four years. While a protective screen now covers the main hole, hundreds of smaller openings created during firefighting efforts still need repairs.
The IAEA has said there is no permanent damage to load-bearing structures, and Tarakanov stressed that radiation levels at Chernobyl remain stable and within normal limits.
