It was the sarcophagus of Chernobil reactor 4

April 26, 1986 was Saturday. The day will always be remembered for what happened at a nuclear power plant located in northern Ukraine (then belonging to the Soviet Union). The explosion of reactor 4 in Chernobil produced the worse nuclear accident of history, and the Soviets built in a hurry A sarcophagus to try to stop the impact. Subsequently, an impenetrable shield was raised to contain radiation, but nobody thought the war was going to pass there.

An unforeseen drone. It happened just over a month ago. On February 14, an explosive drone Shahed 136of Iranian manufacture and launched by Russia, pierced the structure of confinement of the reactor 4 of Chernobil, considered one of the greatest feats of modern engineering and designed to contain the radiation of the worst nuclear disaster in history.

This steel dome, known as the New Safe Confinementwas installed in 2016 with a cost of 1.7 billion dollars and the participation of more than 45 countries. The work was conceived to resist natural disasters, but not war actions. The drone, whose estimated cost Round the $ 20,000caused an internal fire that lasted For almost three weeksseverely affecting the northern part of the structure, and also leaving damage in the south, as confirmed the Ukrainian authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (Oiea).

Immediate consequences. Apparently, although the initial fire He extinguished Quickly, an impermeable membrane within the isolation burned and kept smoking for days. To combat the fire, emergency equipment, equipped as mountaineers, had to open holes in the dome outer layer and introduce pressure at pressure, something, a priori, “vetoed”, since it contravenes the principle of keeping the interior dry to avoid corrosion.

The problem? The intervention raised significantly Moisture levels Within the enclosure, which now represents a serious risk to the stability of the structure and its insulation capacity. By March 7, Ukraine declared the fire officially extinguishedbut the damages were already extensive, seriously compromising the original functionality of the dome.

Although external measurements indicate normal radiation levels, system integrity It is in questionwhich forces to reconsider the dismantling plan of the reactor and the treatment of radioactive waste, planned to begin in the next five years.

Implications for nuclear safety. He New York Times counted That experts like Shaun Burnie and Jan Vande Putte, from Greenpeace, have explained that the impact of the attack was not only physical, but also symbolic: It demonstrated the vulnerability of a structure built to last a century and protect Europe and the world from the radioactive content of the reactor. Both specialists, together with Ukrainian authorities Like Artem SiryiThey argue that the structure no longer fulfills its confinement function and may require being completely dismantled and replacedan operation of millionaire costs and extreme technical difficulty.

The immediate alternative (according to Eric Schmieman suggestsone of the main engineers of the original project) could consist of provisional measures to reduce moisture and avoid corrosion. Here are possibilities such as temporary seals and the reactivation of the ventilation system. However, repair or rebuild the structure in its current location It is almost impossible due to high radiation levels. Plus: Move it also presents severe risks, especially by the deteriorated state of the original Soviet sarcophagus still contained inside.

Historical context. We said it at the beginning and We have spoken in several occasions of the tragedy. The damaged shield represents the result of decades of efforts To contain a catastrophe that in 1986 caused the evacuation of an exclusion zone of 2,600 km², left an official balance of 31 immediate dead and contributed to a Sustained increase in cancersparticularly thyroid.

He original sarcophagusbuilt of emergency by the Soviet Union, was slowly collapsing, and its replacement took years in planning and executing. The current structure was built at a distance of half a kilometer to minimize the exposure and then slid over the reactor. Apparently, it is composed of two layers of steel and humidity control systems to prevent oxidation and collapse. Its function is clear: contain the radioactive dust and allow the controlled dismantling of the reactor by means of cranes installed inside. Now, this whole process is suspended indefinitely.

Drones, war and vulnerability. The attackcarried out within the framework of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, marks a new milestone in the vulnerability of critical infrastructure against cheap and difficult to intercept weapons Like drones. Let us think that until now both parties have avoided directing active nuclear plants, and that the growing use of drones for strategic attacks on energy facilities has generated global alarm.

In this regard, Trump even suggested, as part of the negotiations for a ceasefire, that the United States assume control of Ukrainian electrical and nuclear facilities to avoid this type of threats. According to Soryiresponsible for the operation of the Domo, many drones survive Chernobil almost every night, most in the direction of Kyiv, which reinforces the need to rethink the protection of nuclear sites before a new type of constant, silent and accessible air threat.

Future. It is the most difficult to foresee. Explained in the Times That the total restoration of the damaged structure is emerging as an almost impossible company. Experts suggest starting with urgent mitigation solutions while the feasibility of a reconstruction is evaluated.

Ironically, the drones, the same type of technology that pierced the dome, could now become allies: small devices developed by Ukraine They could be used to evaluate internal damage and attend remote repairs, minimizing human exposure to radiation.

However, the cost, the scale of the damage and the risks involved propose a technical and financial dilemma to the international community. The doubt will now be to decide whether to undertake a new titanic work or risk a future catastrophe for insufficient protection.

Image | TimelessState Emergency Service of Ukraine, Berria

In Xataka | Chernobil is full of radioactive dogs. It has nothing to do with the nuclear accident, according to a study

In Xataka | The place where the US created atomic bombs has a problem. Plutonium has shot at the Chernobil level