Paris donor conference seeks funds to repair Chernobyl shelter damaged by Russian drone

Paris conference to close the funding gap

The French government is hosting a "donor conference" in Paris on Monday, 9 November, to collect the money still missing for repairs to the protective structure at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant. Officials in the economy minister's office said the effort has so far raised a little over half of the 500 million euros needed. The event is the second stage toward that total, with the goal of completing the project by spring 2027. Ukraine's government and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are co-organising the meeting, which Economy Minister Roland Lescure's office said he will open. The invitation also points to the complexity of the damage.

“The scale and complexity of the damage caused by the Russian attack make full restoration both urgent and difficult.”

Gap and earlier pledges

In mid-October, the minister said G7 countries had already raised, or were in the process of raising, 260 million euros for the project. The French government, which holds the G7 presidency this year, had put the required sum at about 500 million euros in March. Organisers hope for new contributions on Monday, and the minister's office said countries could announce them during the day. The United States said at the end of April that it would release up to 100 million dollars and asked its G7 partners to follow its example.

Required for repair500

G7 raised or in process (mid-October 2026)260

Required for repair

500 million euros

G7 raised or in process (mid-October 2026)

260 million euros

Data from the article text

Reactor and drone damage

The Chernobyl reactor exploded in April 1986. In 2016 a metal arch was placed over it, enveloping the first concrete sarcophagus that had been built hastily in 1986. In February 2025 a Russian drone damaged that protective structure, which is the reason for the current appeal. The timeline below sets out the key dates from the explosion to the conference.

Participants and what comes next

Anatolii Kutsevol, deputy energy minister of Ukraine, will attend in Paris, while Prime Minister Serhii Koretsky will join by videoconference. Benjamin Haddad, the French minister delegate for Europe, will close the event. According to the invitation, the meeting will present the latest technical assessments and the proposed restoration strategy, and review existing international commitments. The aim is to secure new substantial pledges for the restoration programme. Organisers expect announcements during Monday, and the restoration is targeted for completion by spring 2027.