Britain pledges £17m to repair damaged Chernobyl nuclear plant

Britain has announced £17 million in funding to support critical repairs at Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plant after a Russian drone strike damaged its protective shelter and ventilation system last year.

The British government said on Thursday that the funding would contribute to an international repair programme coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in cooperation with the Ukrainian government and Group of Seven (G7) donors. The initiative aims to restore the facility’s nuclear safety functions and reduce the risk of further damage.

The repairs will focus on restoring the protective structure’s confinement and ventilation systems, which are essential for containing radioactive materials and maintaining safe conditions at the site. The work is also intended to preserve the structure’s expected lifespan.

British officials warned that delaying repairs could allow corrosion to weaken the protective shelter. This could threaten decades of international investment in the facility and increase long-term environmental and nuclear safety risks.

The Chernobyl plant remains a major concern because of the 1986 nuclear disaster, one of the worst accidents in the history of nuclear power. The destroyed fourth reactor is covered by the New Safe Confinement structure, which was built to contain radioactive material and protect the surrounding environment.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, reaffirmed London’s support for Ukraine as Russia’s full-scale invasion continues. He said Britain was working to limit Russia’s financial resources for the war while helping Ukraine rebuild infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also reiterated Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine alongside its international partners. He said the UK would continue efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s security and increase the costs of Russian aggression.

The funding forms part of broader international efforts to protect critical infrastructure in Ukraine and address the long-term consequences of the war. Restoring Chernobyl’s damaged safety systems is considered essential to maintaining the site’s containment capabilities and limiting potential environmental hazards.