Chernobyl Nuclear Shield Damaged In Drone Strike, Safety Concerns Rise

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Should we be worried? Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of world’s worst civilian nuclear accident in 1986, severely damaged and has ‘lost safety function’ of its radiation shield after drone strike.

The strike — most likely Russian — set fire to the New Safe Confinement building, which was erected over site in 2016 to protect the shattered reactor’s remains, and is expected to need $600 million of repairs.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors found that the massive structure, built over site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, had lost its “primary safety functions including the confinement capability.”

The Chernobyl disaster: How it happened.

Vast new tomb for most dangerous waste in the world. The 1986 explosion at Chernobyl blasted radioactive material into the air, triggering a public health emergency across Europe.

In response, the former Soviet Union constructed the sarcophagus over the nuclear reactor. The sarcophagus only had a 30-year lifespan, prompting the need for the protective shell to prevent radioactive material leaking out over the next 100 years.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of the top defense news of the last couple of days from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Much needed boost since China is on war footing. Pentagon seeks funds for Golden Dome, drones, AI in largest-ever budget request, $1.5 trillion for fiscal 2027 — 42% year-over-year increase and most expensive military outlay in modern history.

Pentagon to make its largest ever investment in drones and anti-drone weapons with more than $70 billion, with proposed funding surge marking its most substantial investment in these technologies to date.

HOMELAND SECURITY

What do we know about Anthropic’s Mythos amid rising concerns after company found thousands of serious vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers?

President Trump predicted U.S. government would have good relationship with Anthropic PBC, a stark reversal in tone toward the AI company that’s embroiled in bitter fight with Pentagon.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Proposed reduction-in-force rule:  Disabled American Veterans is condemning plan by Office of Personnel Management to change long-held protections for veterans from federal job layoffs.

Annual flu vaccine requirement for troops discarded, ‘effective immediately,’ by Pentagon.

Air Force budget increases spending by 38% to boost readiness and air superiority. The added billions will invest in its fleet while also prioritizing personnel, flying hours, training and large-scale exercises.

Space Force scrambles to repair workforce as massive budget increase looms. Trump administration, which last year stripped Space Force of 14% of its civilian workers, now wants it to handle budget more than twice as large.

Saildrone, a maritime defense company, is building new class of unmanned surface vessels designed for anti-submarine warfare operations.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Southern Command standing up new element aimed at connecting tactical missions to long-term outcomes with unmanned systems.

Army’s decadelong practice of rotating armored brigades through Europe is eroding combat readiness, straining budgets and narrowing its ability to respond to crises elsewhere. New study calls for reset.

Navy ‘to study’ possibility of building ships outside U.S. using foreign partners to manufacture nation’s warships as it seeks to address its growing shipbuilding needs.

IRAN CEASEFIRE

Looks bad. In about-face, Trump extends Iran ceasefire indefinitely until Tehran comes to negotiating table with a proposal.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

U.S. blocks Iraq’s dollar shipments to squeeze its Iran-backed militias. Trump administration also suspended security cooperation with Baghdad in escalating pressure campaign.

When the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Spruance opened fire on Iranian cargo ship Touska on April 19th with its 5-inch MK 45 gun, it marked first time in almost four decades something like was done. In fact, the prior incident took place almost exactly 38 years ago to the day in same general vicinity against the same enemy.

Navy destroyers enforcing blockade of Iranian ports carry weapons fielded after USS Cole, an American warship was attacked and nearly sunk more than 25 years ago.

REGIONAL/GLOBAL IMPACT

European military planners to discuss Hormuz reopening in London.

CHINA THREAT

Navy’s medium-sized unmanned service vessels fleet could jump sevenfold from roughly 4 to 30 vessels by 2030 in Indo-Pacific.

U.S. commander warns Taiwan not to ‘starve the chicken’ on defense. Head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stressed importance of Taiwan passing its stalled defense budget, saying U.S. “can’t want Taiwan’s defense more than they want it itself [sic].”

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Russia expanding its military logistics network in West Africa (Sahel region), using port of Conakry in Guinea as a key transit hub for equipment bound for Mali.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE

Denmark will receive Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG air-defense system starting in 2028.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

U.S. did not move key missile defense system from South Korea to Middle East for Iran war, says commander of U.S. forces in Korea.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Number of immigrants in EU reaches record high of 64.2 million in 2025, an increase of roughly 2.1 million from the previous year.

Over past three months, Canadian soldiers conducted more than 5,000-kilometer snowmobile patrol in extreme Arctic conditions, braving blizzards and minus-60-degree Celsius temperatures in military exercises designed to prepare for a foreign threat – and demonstrate Canada’s ability to take care of itself.

US MILITARY

Air Force once again pivoting its strategy to develop sixth-generation tanker and will focus immediate efforts on developing supporting mission systems rather than a new aircraft.

Coast Guard adopts ‘whole new mission’ for drone defense at high-security events, “surging” counter-drone capabilities to upcoming events, training existing enlisted rates on new UAS defense systems as service stands up specialized role focused on robotics.

Navy successfully demonstrated new standoff strike weapon, long-range, winged JDAM, out to 200 miles this month with aim of extending the strike range of carrier-based fighter aircraft.

Navy to integrate land-based PAC-3 MSE interceptor missile with shipborne Aegis Combat System.

END of PDB

FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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