German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has pledged Berlin's assistance in repairing the protective shell of the Chernobyl nuclear ruin after a Russian drone strike damaged the steel arch in February 2025. Schneider, travelling to Kyiv by train accompanied by roughly a dozen business leaders, said Germany would help Ukraine address the deterioration of the containment structure.
The shielding function of the steel construction is no longer guaranteed, according to experts, following the attack on the arch that encloses the reactor destroyed in the 1986 disaster. Plant management estimates repair costs at around 500 million euros, and a coordinated repair effort among G7 nations is already underway.
The visit comes as Ukraine endures one of the deadliest periods for civilians since Russia's invasion began. July recorded the highest number of civilian casualties since May 2022, marking one of the most devastating months for the civilian population throughout the conflict.