France has contributed €10 million to the Chernobyl Fund of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), enabling further financing for the repair of the protective shelter over the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged by a Russian drone.
This was reported by the press service of Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance.
According to the report, the French contribution was announced during a meeting of the Assembly of Donors of the EBRD’s Chernobyl International Cooperation Account.
The contribution agreement was signed in London by Pierre Heilbronn, the French President’s Special Envoy for Economic Assistance and Reconstruction of Ukraine, and Mark Bowman, EBRD Vice President for Policy and Partnerships.
"Your contribution is extremely important for ensuring nuclear safety not only in Ukraine but around the world. This is not just support for technical solutions—it is a contribution to global stability. We highly value our bilateral cooperation with France, a partner that has consistently supported Ukraine during the most difficult times," said Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Olga Zykova.
She emphasized the need to move from a reactive model to a systemic, long-term approach to Chornobyl’s safety.
The EBRD-established Chernobyl International Cooperation Account, created in 2020, supports donor coordination for addressing the complex challenges at Chornobyl.
Its goals include helping Ukraine dismantle unstable structures of the original shelter over the fourth reactor, carry out repairs to ensure the safe operation of the new protective structure, and manage radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the fund’s scope has expanded to include activities aimed at restoring nuclear safety and protection at the Chornobyl site.
Due to the extent of the damage to the new shelter over reactor four, the total cost of restoration is expected to be significant and to far exceed the currently available resources. The total cost may exceed €100 million.
At present, the fund holds over €19 million. In total, more than €26 million has been raised since the establishment of the Chernobyl International Cooperation Account.
As a reminder, on February 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russian forces had struck the Chornobyl plant with a drone equipped with a high-explosive warhead. He immediately noted that the damage to the shelter was substantial.
