The mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is being carried out as part of a comprehensive safety assessment. The primary goal of this mission is to conduct an independent evaluation of the current safety status of the facility.
This mission was initiated at Ukraine's request following an attack by a Russian drone that caused damage to both the external and internal structures of the New Safe Confinement arch, as well as several internal components, nodes, and systems that are crucial for the safety and functionality of the NSC, designed to transform the "Shelter" object into an environmentally safe system. This was reported by the State Specialized Enterprise "Chernobyl NPP".
It is worth noting that the attack occurred on February 14, 2025. A fire that erupted as a result lasted for ten days and was extinguished thanks to the exceptional efforts of the State Emergency Service and Chernobyl NPP personnel. During this time, Chernobyl NPP specialists developed and implemented emergency measures aimed at sealing the breach caused by the attacking drone to mitigate the impact of autumn-winter weather on the NSC's systems and mechanisms.
However, the overall state of the facility requires thorough expert evaluation. The assessment is being conducted in accordance with point 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the IAEA and the Government of Ukraine, signed on July 10, 2025, in Rome. According to this document, the IAEA provides support in the restoration of the NSC at Chernobyl NPP.
"We would like to express our gratitude to the IAEA for its constant readiness to assist Ukraine and for your support of Chernobyl NPP at this critical moment. Your presence at the Chernobyl site today is a signal of solidarity with Ukraine during this time of Russian aggression," noted the General Director of the State Specialized Enterprise Chernobyl NPP at the beginning of the meeting.
It is also important to remember that the enemy's attack damaged the shelter above the destroyed 4th reactor of the Chernobyl NPP. The fire that broke out as a result of the strike was quickly extinguished, and the radiation background remains normal.