The director of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant stated that the sarcophagus would be completely destroyed in the event of a new Russian strike.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Director Sergey Tarakanov stated that the protective structure over the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant remains in an extremely dangerous condition after being damaged by a Russian drone in February 2025, and a new strike by the Russian Federation could lead to its complete destruction. He told this in an interview with France24.
According to Tarakanov, even an indirect hit poses a serious threat to the structure.
“Even an indirect hit can cause seismic vibrations that the sarcophagus may not be able to withstand. If a missile or drone hits it directly or even falls somewhere nearby, for example, an “Iskander”, God forbid, it will cause a mini-earthquake in the area”, – he noted.
The Director of the Chernobyl NPP emphasized that there are no guarantees that the shelter will be preserved in the event of a new attack, and this is the main risk for the facility. At the same time, according to him, despite the loss of some key functions after the previous attack, the radiation background at the station remains stable and does not exceed the norms.
Tarakanov also reported that the full restoration of the new safe shelter could take three to four years. The hole created by the drone strike was temporarily closed with a protective screen, but about 300 smaller holes made during firefighting operations still need to be sealed.
In addition, in late November, an IAEA mission that visited the Chernobyl NPP confirmed that the confinement over the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl NPP had lost its design functions after being hit by a Russian drone.
