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Chornobyl Shelter at Risk of Collapse If Russia Strikes Again, Warns Plant Director
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s protective sarcophagus could collapse if subjected to further Russian strikes, even without a direct hit, the facility’s director has warned.
In an interview with AFP on December 23, Serhii Tarakanov, director of the Chornobyl plant, said the integrity of the New Safe Confinement (NSC)—the massive steel structure built to contain the remains of Reactor No. 4—has been compromised by recent attacks. The reactor was the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986.
“Even if a missile or drone were to detonate nearby—let alone a direct strike—no one can guarantee the structure would hold,” Tarakanov stated. “That is the greatest threat we currently face.”
A recent drone strike punctured the NSC, creating a large opening that has since been covered with a temporary protective screen. However, around 300 smaller holes, created during past firefighting operations, still require sealing.
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While current radiation levels remain stable and within safety limits, Tarakanov emphasized that the damaged structure has lost some of its key containment functions. He estimated that full restoration of the NSC could take up to four years.
Earlier, it was reported that a type of black fungus found at the Chornobyl nuclear disaster site has demonstrated the ability to convert radiation into usable energy, a discovery that may be applied to space exploration.
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
