sarcophagus

It happened on February 14 of this year. An explosive drone Shahed 136 Iranian manufacturing and possibly launched by Russia left a Huge “scar” In the confinement structure of the Chernobil reactor, considered one of the greatest features of modern engineering and designed to contain the radiation of the worst nuclear disaster in history. That steel dome seemed impenetrable, but nobody warned of A possible war conflict. Two months later, the “wound” is still open. The hole. As we said, the drone loaded with explosives hit the steel structure that covers the number four reactor of the Chernobil nuclear power plant, the same as exploded in 1986 unleashing the worst nuclear disaster in history. Although the attack did not cause radioactive leaks, it left a visible mark on the huge steel dome known as New Safe Confinementraising fears about the possibility that Russia will be willing to bring its war to one of the most dangerous places on the planet. The Ukrainian authorities attributed the attack To Moscowwhich denied any responsibility, while in the area a large group of technicians who still They worked two months later To try to repair the damage. The aggression not only represented a direct threat to the environment, but also a geopolitical ghost: Chernobyl, a symbol of Soviet negligence, is once again placed in the center of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The urgency of restoring. The task before him is delicate. In fact, this was stated by the Minister of Environment, Svitlana Hrynchuk, who confirmed that the government works along with experts to return full functionality to this critical structure. Hrynchuk stressed that the priority is Preserve security nuclear and radiological “under any circumstance.” The original catastrophe. In the background, something that “touches” the nation deeply. Chernobil was, and it remains, a open wound. On April 26, 1986, a failed test caused a Explosion in the reactor which released more than 100 radioactive isotopes on Europe. The city of Pripyat, which then housed almost 50,000 people, was evacuated the next day. The surrounding area, today known as The exclusion zonebecame a ghost territory of enormous extension. The original sarcophagus, built with releasing after the accident, was sealed by the structure multinational of steel in 2016 with a cost of 2.2 billion dollarsa titanic effort destined to last at least a century. The shield, so far impenetrable, is now injured because of The modern war. The New Safe Confinement perforated Russian invasion and occupation. On February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its large -scale invasion, its troops entered Ukraine from Belarus and they took Chernobil control The same day. The scene was immediate chaos: The employees evacuated the central while the director of the radioactive control agency, Sergey Kireev, was the last to leave the place. Kireev himself told these days to the insider environment. Some of their subordinates stayed, and from areas with a telephone signal they helped the Ukrainian forces transmitting data on the invaders movement. At first, the Russians left staff alone, but they soon began to Confiscar Telephoneto prohibit meetings and loot offices, bedrooms and laboratories. Their behavior in the place, According to Kireevcompletely ignored the danger of the environment, traveling through high radiation areas and damaging critical monitoring facilities. The radioactive legacy that does not end. The radioactive chernobil remains (iodine, strontium and cesium) are still present in the air and the ground, with average lives that extend for decades. As We have countedFlora and Fauna mutations persist as a silent reminder of the disaster. After the occupation, when Kireev returned in April 2022, he found The fortified zonewith Ukrainian barricades, destroyed vehicles and dismantled offices. A laboratory, occupied by Russian troops, had been object of vandalism: destroyed computers, wondered cabinets, bullets on the walls. It was discovered that about 70 people They had been captured by the Russians and taken to Russia, where some still remain in captivity. Challenging nuclear logic. The drone attack of February 14, 2024 occurred days before the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky He published images of the impact. In them it was appreciated how a fireball and visible damage was generated in the protective structure. Despite It was not recorded An increase in radiation levels, the fact that a nuclear site can become a military objective exposes the fragility of international agreements and the recklessness of a nuclear power. For Ukraine, Chernobil is not only a symbol of the past, but A living front. The attacked installation was built with the joint effort of dozens of countries, and its integrity was created a global responsibility. The threat of Zaporiyia. Also We count these days. Hundreds of kilometers south, the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant (the largest in Europe) remains under Russian occupation. The accusations between Kyiv and Moscow for attacks on the plant have become frequent, while increasing concern for their safety (the United States also “claims”). Meanwhile, Zelensky He spared no words After the attack on Chernobil: “Russia is the only country in the world that attacks, occupies and uses nuclear centrals such as weapons of war. It is a terrorist threat to everyone.” If you want also, the facts show that the modern war has reached the thresholds of the unthinkable. And in Chernobil, where history has already taught the consequences of human negligence, today it is feared that a single error can turn on another tragedy, this time, in the middle of crossfire. Image | State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Adam Jones In Xataka | A Russian drone has opened one of the greatest engineering works. The problem: it was the sarcophagus of Chernobil reactor 4 In Xataka | Chernobil is full of radioactive dogs. It has nothing to do with the nuclear accident, according to a study

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. Features of the New Safe Confinement perforated 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 … Read more