US Ready to Allocate $100 Million to Repair Chornobyl Nuclear Shelter After Drone Strike

The United States has expressed readiness to allocate up to $100 million toward repairing the protective structure over the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged by a Russian drone strike, according to a statement from the US Department of State on April 29.

As reported by European Pravda on April 29, the funding would be part of a broader Group of Seven (G7) initiative aimed at restoring the New Safe Confinement arch .

The State Department said the US contribution would account for approximately 20% of the estimated $500 million required for repairs. The announcement underlined Washington’s willingness to act in coordination with Congress and international partners.

“We call on G7 and European partners to follow this example and make significant financial contributions,” the statement said.

The department noted that following damage sustained last year “as a result of the senseless war between Russia and Ukraine,” the structure—originally designed to last 100 years—no longer provides adequate protection against a potential radiation leak.

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War in Ukraine

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The concerns come amid growing scrutiny over the condition of the containment structure following the strike. The structural integrity of the shelter over Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant has been called into question after damage caused by a Russian drone attack in February 2025, raising alarms about the long-term containment of radioactive materials.

Nuclear expert Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace warned that elements of the original “Shelter” structure could be at risk of collapse, potentially complicating efforts to manage radioactive contamination at the site.

“The problem is that the New Safe Confinement is a hermetic environment—at least it was before February 14 last year. Now it effectively no longer is,” Burnie said.

Previously, in February, dozens of drones were detected in monitoring areas around the Chornobyl and Rivne nuclear power plants, posing what international officials have described as a direct threat to nuclear safety and security.

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