UK pledges £17m to repair Chornobyl protective shelter

Britain has announced £17 million for repairs to the protective shelter over Chornobyl’s destroyed reactor, joining an international effort coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The UK government announced the contribution on 15 October.

Restoring the shelter

The funding is intended to help restore confinement and ventilation systems and preserve the structure’s working life, according to the government. The announcement concerns the shelter damaged in 2025, rather than a new attack on the site.

A wider repair programme

The EBRD has previously estimated that restoring the New Safe Confinement could require at least €500 million, with full functionality sought by 2030. It says the February 2025 drone strike compromised the structure’s ability to contain radiological hazards and support dismantling of the old sarcophagus. Both the bank and the UK government attribute that attack to Russia.

Why the repairs matter

The bank warns that corrosion could worsen damage to the steel structure. Britain’s contribution supports a multinational safety programme; it does not mean the repairs are complete.