Germany to allocate €50 million for restoration of Chornobyl NPP confinement
The Government of Germany will allocate 50 million euros for the restoration of the New Safe Confinement of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, damaged as a result of a Russian drone strike in February 2025. This was announced on 19 August by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
The funds are planned to be contributed to the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Through this mechanism, international partners finance work related to nuclear safety and restoration of Chornobyl NPP facilities.
The decision followed a meeting between First Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany Carsten Schneider on 18 August. The German delegation also visited the Chornobyl NPP and inspected the damaged Arch of the confinement and its infrastructure.
Shmyhal noted that the possibility of attracting German funding was discussed directly during the meeting, after which Berlin promptly decided to allocate the funds. According to him, the restoration of the protective structure is important for nuclear safety not only of Ukraine, but of all of Europe.
Full repair estimated at minimum €500 million
The preliminary cost of restoring the New Safe Confinement is at least 500 million euros. Thus, the announced contribution from Germany corresponds to approximately one tenth of the current estimate of required expenses. The EBRD warns that without full repair, the damage could lead to further corrosion of the main steel structure and complicate subsequent restoration.
In April, ICCA donors already approved the allocation of 30 million euros for the preparatory stage. These funds are intended for collection and refinement of technical data, development of repair options, preparation of engineering solutions and documentation for subsequent main works. The EBRD expects to restore full functionality of the confinement by 2030.
Other international partners have also previously joined in financing the restoration. Norway announced an additional contribution of 100 million Norwegian kroner — about 10 million dollars. The USA previously stated readiness to provide up to 100 million dollars. The European Commission is also ready to support the restoration.
Russian drone pierced the protective structure
The New Safe Confinement sustained serious damage on the night of 14 February 2025. After the drone strike and subsequent fire, the outer and inner shells of the giant arch were pierced. The IAEA reported damage to equipment and electrical cables, while the main load-bearing beams of the structure did not sustain significant visible damage at that time. Radiation levels after the attack remained normal.
Later inspections showed that the consequences were more serious for the long-term operation of the structure. According to the EBRD, the confinement's tightness was compromised, ventilation and climate control systems were damaged, as well as internal crane equipment. The damage affected two key functions of the structure — isolation of radioactive materials and ensuring safe dismantling of the old Shelter object and the structures of the destroyed fourth power unit.
The New Safe Confinement was created over the old sarcophagus of the fourth power unit of ChNPP, destroyed during the 1986 accident. The international community invested billions of euros in nuclear safety projects at the Chornobyl NPP site, and the Arch itself was designed for long-term operation and carrying out work on gradual dismantling of unstable structures inside the object.
For Kurs, the current decision of Germany is a new stage in the already covered international fundraising for the restoration of the confinement: earlier it was reported about funding from the USA and Norway.
Based on materials from: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, EBRD, IAEA
