EBRD Nuclear Safety Director Sees Damaged Shelter Arch at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

The minister reported this on Facebook, as reported by Ukrinform.

“We are preparing to present our damage assessment and the NSC (New Safe Confinement – ed.) arch restoration plan to our international partners at the meeting of the Assembly of Donors of the International Coordination Account for Chernobyl in June 2025,” the statement said.

According to Grinchuk, technical consultations are currently underway to restore the arch over the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This will require significant investment, so today the main task is to attract as many experts and donors as possible.

Photo: FB/Grinchuk

As part of these consultations, EBRD Director of Nuclear Safety Balthasar Lindauer visited the Chernobyl exclusion zone to see first-hand the scale of the destruction at the site.

Photo: FB/Grinchuk

The Minister noted that the EBRD supports Ukraine's position: it is necessary to develop long-term plans, taking into account previous construction experience and modern wartime challenges. Ukraine is committed to cooperation and is ready to provide partners and investors with all the necessary data.

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The meeting participants also discussed the development of alternative energy in the exclusion zone. This territory has exceptional potential for post-war reconstruction, which will require significant energy resources.

As reported, on the night of February 14, a Russian attack drone equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead hit the shelter above the destroyed fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that the Russian drone strike on the confinement of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was a very serious incident, stating that nuclear safety in Ukraine remains under serious threat.

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The Chernobyl confinement arch, which was built from 2012 to 2016, cost donors around €1.5 billion. The arch covered an outdated shelter. The use of the funds was overseen by the Eurasian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which also became a major donor.

First photo: State Agency for Nuclear Safety.