Ministry of Natural Resources: Results of assessment of Chernobyl shelter condition, upcoming Russian drone attack expected in May

The first conclusions about the state of the shelter at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP), which was attacked by a Russian drone, will be available in May. In June, Ukraine intends to present proposals for the restoration of the New Safe Confinement (NSC or Arch) at the donor assembly in London.

As reported by Ukrinform, this information was voiced by the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Svetlana Grinchuk.

“At the moment, it is difficult to say how much the project implementation deadlines have been delayed, since some work at the site is currently impossible to complete. However, I want to assure everyone that the radiation background has not changed – even after the attack,” Grinchuk noted.

According to the minister, the results of the current assessment will be ready within a few weeks and will be presented at the upcoming donor assembly in London.

“Unfortunately, after the attack, the Arch partially lost its functionality. By May, we will have the results of the analysis, which is being carried out jointly with the Jewish Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), various scientific institutions working in this field, and the original companies responsible for the construction and installation of the Arch, who fully understand the technology. Preliminary results will be available in a few weeks. A restoration plan will be developed and presented to our partners in June at the donor assembly in London to discuss the current state and possible restoration work,” explained Grinchuk.

As reported by Ukrinform, on the night of February 14, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead attacked a shelter above the destroyed reactor of the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) found fragments of the Russian kamikaze drone Geran-2 (Shahed type) both inside the protective structure and in its vicinity. Experts believe the strike was deliberate.