In February 2025, a Russian strike drone tore through the protective arc of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, sparking a weeks-long fire. Workers warn that the site of the world's worst nuclear accident is not yet safe, as the incident narrowly avoided another tragedy.
The attack targeted the new safe confinement, the largest movable steel structure ever built. This massive arch curves overhead to protect the old sarcophagus covering tons of radioactive debris in reactor four, which exploded on April 26, 1986, and spewed radioactive clouds across much of Europe.
Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disaster this Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia's four-year-old war could spark a repeat of the catastrophe. As the anniversary arrives, there is a pressing need to reshield the old sarcophagus to secure the site.