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Ukraine Secures Initial Funding for €500M Chornobyl Shelter Repair, Ukrainian FM Confirms
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Ukraine has received initial financial commitments from international partners for the reconstruction of the damaged protective shelter at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in an interview with Ukrinform on March 29.
According to Sybiha, partners have already pledged “several tens of millions of euros” toward the project, which aims to repair damage caused by a Russian drone strike on the site’s sarcophagus.
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The issue was discussed during Sybiha’s recent visit to Paris. He noted that the total cost of restoring the structure is estimated at around €500 million ($573 million), underscoring the scale of the effort required to ensure nuclear safety.
“This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy. France, as the current G7 chair, proposed discussing this issue ahead of a donor conference to be held in Ukraine in April,” Sybiha said.
He emphasized that nuclear safety extends beyond national borders.
“This is always an issue of the global agenda. During this meeting, concrete commitments were already voiced by a number of countries regarding contributions to the future fund,” he added.
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The reconstruction is expected to be carried out in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. While Sybiha did not disclose exact figures, he confirmed that funding pledges have already been secured.
“Therefore, the process of attracting donor funds has moved forward,” he said.
Why it matters
Damage to the sarcophagus at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant is dangerous because it can compromise the structure’s containment, potentially allowing radioactive dust and aerosols to escape into the environment, increasing risks to human health and contamination of surrounding areas.
It can also complicate monitoring of the remaining nuclear fuel inside the site and raise the likelihood of localized safety incidents.
The risks surrounding nuclear safety in Ukraine have been further heightened by ongoing Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
Rising nuclear risks
Andrii Sybiha previously warned that repeated strikes on Ukraine’s energy system are increasing the likelihood of a nuclear incident in Europe. In a post on X, he said drone and missile attacks targeting key facilities are placing growing pressure on the country’s nuclear sector.
According to Sybiha, recent attacks on the power grid have forced all three of Ukraine’s operational nuclear power plants to scale back production, triggering automatic shutdown protocols and disconnections of reactor units.
“Each such situation is a direct threat,” he wrote, noting that no incidents have occurred so far only “thanks to the professionalism of Ukrainian nuclear energy professionals.”
In January, Ukraine fully restored electricity supply to the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant following a Russian missile and drone strike that targeted energy infrastructure serving the exclusion zone, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy.
The overnight attack damaged critical power facilities supplying the site. Despite this, all systems at the plant—including the New Safe Confinement and spent nuclear fuel storage facilities—are now operating normally using electricity from Ukraine’s unified energy grid.
Radiation levels at the site and throughout the exclusion zone remain within safe limits, with no immediate risk to people or the environment.
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