Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that there has been significant damage to the steel sarcophagus covering the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, originally constructed after the catastrophic explosion in 1986. Zelensky reported on new developments surrounding the site on February 14, 2025, amidst ongoing military conflicts in the region.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a key financier in the Chernobyl clean-up efforts, expressed deep concern regarding these developments, labeling them as a potential threat to decades of safety work carried out at the site.

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso emphasized in a statement that attacks on the area could have serious consequences for the safety of not only those in Ukraine but also for neighboring countries.

In response to Ukraine's allegations, Russian authorities dismissed the claims and characterized them as disinformation and provocation.

They firmly denied any involvement in attacks on the Chernobyl facility.

The EBRD has been instrumental in funding extensive decommissioning and safety measures at Chernobyl, contributing 715 million euros and securing an additional 2.5 billion euros in international co-financing for these efforts.

The bank was a primary financial backer for the construction of the sarcophagus, which was completed in 2016. The shelter, a massive steel structure measuring 110 meters long, 257 meters wide, and 105 meters high, was designed to secure the remains of the reactor and prevent further radioactive leaks.

While Zelensky reported that a fire at the site had been extinguished and the levels of background radiation remained stable, the recent incidents underscore ongoing risks associated with the legacy of the Chernobyl disaster in the context of the current geopolitical situation.

The EBRD called for an immediate cessation of hostilities that jeopardize international efforts to safeguard one of the world's most significant nuclear disaster sites.