Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law to secure long-term funding for the next critical management phases of the Chornobyl NPP. The proposed legislation extends the State Programme through 2036 and has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) for final ratification.
Unit 4 of the Chornobyl NPP was destroyed in the April 1986 accident after which a shelter (sarcophagus) was hastily constructed to encase the damaged unit, which still contains the molten core of the reactor and an estimated 200 tonnes of highly radioactive material. The other three units closed down in 1991, 1996 and 2000 and are now being decommissioned.
The sarcophagus was not designed as a long-term solution and began to deteriorate. The New Safe Confinement (NSC), completed in 2019, was constructed to cover the original shelter and enable its safe dismantling. However, a drone strike in February 2025 damaged the external cladding of the NSC, affecting a wider area of about 200-square-metres. Temporary repair work was carried out before the winter to prevent weather damage with the cost of restoring its full protective functions put at around €500m ($578m).
The draft law outlines a total funding allocation of UAH50.8bn ($1.1bn), UAH 45.6bn of which will be provided directly from Ukraine’s national budget. UAH5.2bn will be covered through international technical assistance.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the update is required because Chornobyl has completed its initial closure and decommissioning preparation phases. The updated timeline covers two main strategic targets:
- Active decommissioning: transitioning into the direct, hands-on dismantling of the decommissioned power units.
- Shelter transformation: overseeing the conversion of the original unit 4 “Shelter object” into an environmentally stable, safe system.
A major new provision within this draft act allocates resources to handle modern security threats. It establishes tasks to repair the NSC. “Extending the programme will ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the Chornobyl NPP decommissioning process, support Ukraine’s international commitments in the field of nuclear safety, and facilitate the mobilisation of international technical and financial assistance for projects at the plant,” the ministry said.
This funding extension ensures sustained domestic and international backing such as a €30m agreement signed with the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) in April to complete infrastructure repairs and maintain environmental safety standards. The €30m million is part of the broader International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), which was established to manage donor contributions for long-term safety projects.
The first €30 million allocation serves as emergency funding to launch the preparatory phase. Engineers are evaluating the structural integrity of the NSC. Teams are drafting technical solutions to replace 200 square metres of damaged panels and patch a 15 square metre hole in the cladding. Funds are being used to restore climate control, seal the ventilation system, and fix the internal crane systems to prevent atmospheric corrosion.
Some of the funding is designated for buying specialised technical equipment required for high-radiation work areas. The preparatory and engineering works run to 2027. The heavy, active construction phase is slated to begin by 2028, with a target completion date of 2030.
Future funding tranches will cover the total replacement of damaged isolation membranes and structural steel reinforcing beams. The ultimate goal of the 2030 target is to make the NSC completely airtight again. The ICCA continues to collect pledges. Recent commitments include over €9m from Norway and a $100m pledge from the US as part of a G7 coalition effort.
