A delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) visited the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on October 31 to see how the facility operates in the exclusion zone during the war and to discuss possible formats of further cooperation with Ukraine’s nuclear specialists.
The Chernobyl NPP management outlined to European partners the key challenges the plant faces today. The main one is the constant threat of Russian strikes, which complicates both routine work and long-term decommissioning programs. Despite this, the plant continues to carry out its core tasks — decommissioning of power units, safe management of radioactive waste and gradual development of the exclusion zone’s infrastructure.
During the visit, the delegation was shown the consequences of the drone attack that took place in February, when a Russian UAV damaged the protective confinement and caused a fire. Thanks to the prompt actions of the staff, the situation was stabilized and the facility remained safe, but the structure now requires extensive repair and restoration. This episode became an important illustration for the EIB of why international support for Chernobyl’s safety projects remains relevant even decades after the 1986 disaster.
The parties separately discussed where the EIB could join Ukrainian projects. Among the possible areas:
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strengthening physical and radiation safety systems at the site;
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financing long-term decommissioning and radioactive waste management programs;
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restoring and upgrading infrastructure in the exclusion zone, which also suffered during Russia’s temporary occupation in 2024;
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improving resilience of the site to future attacks or emergencies.
Chernobyl NPP Director General Serhiy Tarakanov noted that international participation has already allowed Ukraine to make “huge steps” in overcoming the legacy of 1986, and now, after wartime damage, this cooperation needs to continue. According to him, the plant’s specialists have already prepared several proposals that can be formalized with the EIB at the next stages.
For the European Investment Bank, potential participation in Chernobyl projects fits into its broader line of support for Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and post-war recovery. For Ukraine, it is an opportunity to attract long-term, relatively cheap European financing specifically for safety — an area that is difficult to cover from the state budget during a full-scale war.
