Chernobyl’s containment tested as war reaches the haven of safety
The New Safe Confinement arch built to shield Reactor No. 4 at Chernobyl faces renewed jeopardy after a 2025 drone strike damaged the structure, sparking warnings from the IAEA that its safety function could be compromised and that dismantling work may be delayed by war-related disruption. Despite no immediate rise in local radiation, the incident highlights how the invasion has upended assumptions about nuclear safety and cleanup timelines, reviving memories of the 1986 disaster for staff who have endured decades of exposure and duty at the site.