French Government Hosts Paris Donors Conference to Repair Chernobyl Confinement Arch
France and international partners gather in Paris to secure the remaining funds needed to repair the Chernobyl nuclear plant shelter damaged by a drone strike.
The French government hosted a donors conference in Paris on Monday to raise the remaining funds required to repair the protective steel arch over the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The structure was damaged last year when it was struck by a Russian drone.
French Economy Minister Roland Lescure opened the conference, which was organized within the framework of the G7 currently presided over by France, stating that the event aims to gather the financial resources necessary to restore the sarcophagus. Lescure noted that officials had previously announced the collection of 260 million euros toward the total estimated cost of 500 million euros.
"We must raise this sum by next spring," Lescure said, emphasizing the need to continue the work and expand the circle of donors. Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Anatolii Kutsevol also attended the meeting in Paris, expressing gratitude to participating international partners and stating his confidence that the target of at least 500 million euros will be met for the restoration of the new containment enclosure.
The French government's invitation highlighted the complexity and scale of the damage caused by the Russian attack, making a complete restoration both urgent and demanding. The event was co-organized by the Ukrainian government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to present technical assessments, restoration strategies, and current international commitments.
The original Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded in April 1986 and was later covered in 2016 by a large metal confinement arch built over the initial emergency concrete shelter. In February 2025, that protective structure was punctured by a drone strike.
The United States previously announced it would allocate up to 100 million dollars in late April while urging G7 partners to contribute as well. The U.S. State Department warned earlier in the spring that without repairs, the structure can no longer offer adequate protection, creating a risk of dangerous leaks of highly radioactive materials across Europe.