New Delhi, Dec. 7 -- The protective shield built around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in Ukraine can no longer do its job, reports claimed on Sunday.

The UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was quoted by ANI as saying that the main barrier constructed to contain radioactive material at the Chernobyl nuclear accident site can no longer fully perform its task after a drone strike earlier this year.

The agency noted that the New Safe Confinement (NSC) was "severely damaged" during a February attack and has "lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability."

Ukraine alleged that Russian forces were responsible for the February 14 incident, while the Kremlin rejected the charge.

The ...