'This is not just Ukraine's problem,' EBRD chief warns of Chornobyl shelter funding shortfall
Nation5 November, 02:27 PM
The bank is seeking funding to restore the New Safe Confinement, a massive steel structure built over the remains of the fourth reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which exploded in 1986. The structure protects the destroyed reactor and enables the safe management of radioactive materials.
In February 2025, the confinement structure was damaged by a Russian drone strike. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) estimates that restoring the protective structure will cost about 500 million euros. However, technical assessments of the required work are still underway.
"This is not just Ukraine's problem. Everyone should be concerned about nuclear safety around the world," Renaud-Basso said.
According to the EBRD president, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant currently poses no immediate danger. However, the damage must be repaired by 2030.
If repairs are not completed on time, moisture could cause corrosion of the infrastructure beneath the protective arch. As a result, managing radioactive materials would become significantly more difficult and expensive.
Renaud-Basso also noted that the cost of repairing the damage at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant could potentially be recovered through Russian war reparations in the future.
Russian drone strike on Chornobyl nuclear plant's protective structure
On the night of Feb. 14, 2025, a Russian drone carrying a high-explosive warhead struck the roof of the New Safe Confinement, which protects the destroyed fourth reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The strike damaged the structure and caused a fire.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed explosions at the plant but did not mention Russia in its statement.
Efforts to extinguish the fire continued for several weeks.
On Feb. 20, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to continuously monitor the situation and detect potential new fire outbreaks.
On March 7, the emergency caused by the Russian drone strike at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was fully resolved.
On April 27, 2026, Ukraine and the EBRD agreed to allocate 30 million euros for the first phase of restoring the protective structure at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.