Ukrainian regulator warns russia’s attack on Chornobyl’s new safe confinement amplifies dismantling of unstable shelter structures

An enemy attack on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant shelter has left background radiation levels at the site unchanged. However, the strike has further complicated efforts to transform the facility into an environmentally safe structure.

Oleh Korikov, State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) and Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, addressed the issue during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

“Fortunately, there were no casualties as a result of this off-design accident, and background radiation levels remained within the same limits as before the impact. However, we cannot say with certainty how we will proceed in transforming the shelter into an environmentally safe system, as we no longer have this protective barrier,” Korikov stated.

“Now, we are dealing with damaged lifting equipment, nonfunctional ventilation systems, and other critical infrastructure that was specifically designed and built to support the long-term strategy of making the shelter environmentally safe,” he added.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news