• A drone strike has damaged the protective shield at the Chornobyl nuclear plant.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it can no longer perform its safety functions.
• The attack is attributed to Russian drones, according to Ukrainian authorities.
• Radiation levels remain stable, and no leaks have been reported following the incident.
• The protective shield is crucial for containing radioactive material from the 1986 disaster.

The Chornobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine has suffered damage to its protective shield due to a drone strike, which the United Nations nuclear watchdog confirmed on Friday. This shield, established to contain radioactive material from the 1986 disaster, can no longer perform its crucial safety functions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that an inspection revealed the structure's degradation was caused by a drone impact attributed to Russia, amid ongoing military conflict between the two nations, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized that the inspection confirmed the protective structure had "lost its primary safety functions," though it was noted that there was no permanent damage to the load-bearing structures or monitoring systems. Repairs have been initiated, but comprehensive restoration is deemed critical to ensure long-term safety at the plant, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

The UN had previously reported, on February 14, that Ukrainian authorities indicated the drone involved had a high explosive warhead and was responsible for damaging the cladding around reactor number four, which was destroyed during the 1986 explosion. Ukrainian claims point to Russia, who has denied conducting any attack on the plant. Despite the damage, the UN confirmed that radiation levels remain normal and there have been no leaks, as stated by The Jakarta Post and Reuters.

The inspection coincided with broader evaluations of damage inflicted by the nearly four-year war, which has seen varying claims from both sides about the security and operation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, emphasizing the escalating risks involved amidst this international conflict, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.