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Russian Drone Punctures Chernobyl Sarcophagus, Triggers €0.5 Billion Repair Request

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Russian drone strike in February 2025 punctured the protective sarcophagus over Chernobyl’s Reactor 4, prompting emergency repairs and a half-billion-euro funding request.
Deputy director Denys Khomenko says workers can only endure a few minutes of exposure while sealing dozens of holes, requiring many specialists.
The 2016 steel-and-concrete sarcophagus, built for a 100-year lifespan, now needs extensive sealing while 400 reactors run in 31 countries and 70 are under construction.

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Story summary

Russian drone strike in February 2025 punctured the protective sarcophagus over Chernobyl’s Reactor 4, prompting emergency repairs and a half-billion-euro funding request.
Deputy director Denys Khomenko says workers can only endure a few minutes of exposure while sealing dozens of holes, requiring many specialists.
The 2016 steel-and-concrete sarcophagus, built for a 100-year lifespan, now needs extensive sealing while 400 reactors run in 31 countries and 70 are under construction.