Chernobyl

On Feb. 14 2025, a drone struck the protective shield covering Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine. The attack caused a fire and damaged the steel cladding. As of Dec. 6 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has formally assessed the site and reported that the New Safe Confinement has now “lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability,” meaning it can no longer guarantee that radioactive material remains fully contained. Ukraine has blamed Russia for the strike, which Moscow denies, while international monitors warn that the risk to global nuclear safety is rising.