LONDON: Britain has announced £17 million in new funding for critical repairs to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. According to an official UK government statement, the plant's protective shelter was damaged by a Russian drone strike last year.
The support forms part of an international programme coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), working with the government of Ukraine and G7 donors. It is meant to restore the structure's confinement and ventilation functions and protect its intended lifespan.
The government said that without repairs, corrosion risked undermining decades of international investment and creating longer-term environmental and safety risks.
The Independent and The Express Tribune quoted Chancellor John Healey as saying Britain's commitment to the Ukrainian people was unshakeable as Russia's full-scale invasion continued, and that London was curtailing the war chest Putin wants while backing Ukraine's reconstruction. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain would keep working with allies to strengthen Ukraine's security.
The Independent said the pledge came as Andy Burnham sought to bolster support for Ukraine, while The Guardian noted concerns about slipping long-term US support. The UK statement said Britain's total donations to the international Chornobyl safety fund stand at €8 million, making it the third-largest individual donor after Norway and France.