Chernobyl was sealed in 2016 under the €2B New Safe Confinement, built to last 100 years. In Feb 2025, a Russian drone strike tore a hole in its roof and set off a fire that burned for 17 days.

Radiation isn’t leaking now, but the shield’s pressurized seal is gone. If the old sarcophagus inside collapses, radioactive dust could escape.

Repairs are urgent but complex, funding is shaky, and war has scattered the expertise needed. Chernobyl isn’t leaking today—but its long-term safety has been broken.