A protective shield covering the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine can no longer provide its main containment function following a drone strike earlier this year, according to a UN watchdog.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors found that the massive structure, built over the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost its primary safety functions including the confinement capability.
In February, Ukraine accused Russia of targeting the power plant - a claim the Kremlin denied.
The IAEA said repairs were essential to prevent further degradation of the nuclear shelter. However, environmental expert Jim Smith told the BBC: It is not something to panic about.
Prof Smith from the University of Portsmouth in the UK, who has studied the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, noted that the main risk related to the site involved disturbing radioactive dust, but he reiterated that the risk is low because contaminated dust is contained within a thick concrete sarcophagus that covers the reactor.
The 1986 explosion at Chernobyl disseminated radioactive material, causing a public health emergency across Europe. The former Soviet Union had built the sarcophagus over the reactor, which has a limited lifespan of 30 years. The protective shell was designed to prevent radioactive material from leaking out over the subsequent 100 years.
According to the IAEA, a team completed a safety assessment of the site last week after the drone strike caused a fire in the outer cladding of the steel shield. Inspectors found no permanent damage to the shell's load-bearing structures or monitoring systems, and some repairs had already been made to the roof.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi stressed that timely and comprehensive restoration is crucial to ensure long-term nuclear safety. The UN's nuclear watchdog is also currently evaluating Ukraine's energy infrastructure as the country remains engaged in defense against ongoing Russian aggression.
