Capture of Chernobyl

File:Checkpoint ditkatky chernobyl zone.JPG

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 released large quantities of radioactive material from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant into the surrounding environment.{{cite web |date= 23 April 2021|title=The 1986 Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident |url=https://www.iaea.org/topics/chornobyl |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2023-07-29 |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency}} The area in a {{convert|30|km|mi}} radius surrounding the exploded reactor was evacuated and sealed off by Soviet authorities.{{cite book |last=Marples |first=David R. |author1-link=David R. Marples |others=Introduction be Victor G. Snell |title=The Social Impact of the Chernobyl Disaster |publisher=St. Martin's Press |date =1988 |location=New York |isbn=978-0-312-02432-1 |oclc=489602767 |lccn=88018314 |ol=OL2041623M |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/socialimpactof00marp |via=Internet Archive |df=dmy-all}}{{rp|[https://archive.org/details/socialimpactof00marp/page/27 27]}}{{cite book |last1=Ritzer |first1=George |last2=Atalay |first2=Zeynep |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ynQPYXUQF64C&pg=PA272 |title=Readings in Globalization: Key Concepts and Major Debates |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4051-3273-2 |page=272 |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303234623/https://books.google.com/books?id=ynQPYXUQF64C&pg=PA272 |url-status=live}} This area was formalised as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone; its boundaries have changed over time.{{cite journal|last1=Bondarkov|first1=Mikhail D.|last2=Oskolkov|first2=Boris Ya.|last3=Gaschak|first3=Sergey P.|last4=Kireev|first4=Sergey I.|last5=Maksimenko|first5=Andrey M.|last6=Proskura|first6=Nikolai I.|last7=Jannik|first7=G. Timothy|last8=Farfán|first8=Eduardo B.|date=October 2011|title=Environmental Radiation Monitoring in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone – History and Results 25 Years After|journal=Health Physics|volume=101|issue=4|pages=442–485|doi=10.1097/HP.0b013e318229df28|pmid=21878769|s2cid=34630968|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc837525/|access-date=1 April 2022|archive-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402025732/https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc837525/|url-status=live}} Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, this area became part of newly independent Ukraine{{cite book |last=Petryna |first=Adriana |title=Life Exposed: Biological Citizens After Chernobyl |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2002 |location=New Jersey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPnZrC4kEv8C&pg=PA49 |isbn=978-0-691-09019-1 |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130221442/https://books.google.com/books?id=EPnZrC4kEv8C&pg=PA49 |url-status=live}}{{rp|p.4–5}}{{rp|p.49f.3}} and was managed by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.{{cite book |author=Economic Commission for Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AaUCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 |title=Environmental Performance Reviews: Ukraine – First Review |date=17 December 1999 |publisher=United Nations |isbn=978-92-1-004057-0 |page=50 |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303234634/https://books.google.com/books?id=AaUCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA50 |url-status=live}}

Chernobyl is {{convert|130|km|mi}} north of Kyiv and the regional road PO2 connecting Chernobyl and Kyiv is in relatively good condition, thus creating a direct strategic corridor to Kyiv, which Russian forces could exploit to capture the capital. The exclusion zone is located right on the border with Belarus, a Russian ally which allowed a military buildup in their territory. On 16 February 2022, satellite imagery showed Russian troops building pontoon bridges over rivers on the Belarusian side of the exclusion zone, the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve.{{cite magazine |last=Roblin |first=Sebastien |date=2022-02-16 |title=Russian Troops Just Built A Pontoon Bridge Near Chernobyl |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2022/02/16/russian-troops-just-built-a-pontoon-bridge-near-chernobyl/ |magazine=Forbes |access-date=2022-03-29 |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313002604/https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2022/02/16/russian-troops-just-built-a-pontoon-bridge-near-chernobyl/ |url-status=live }}

At 7 a.m. on 24 February 2022, a scheduled shift change for the workers in the power plant was cancelled, the workers being informed that Russia had launched a full-out invasion of Ukraine, and that the plant was to be put on high alert. That morning, there were around 300 people within the exclusion zone, including nuclear staff, medical staff, firefighters, 169 soldiers of the 1st Nuclear Power Plant Protection Battalion and four tourists.{{cite web|date=22 June 2022|title=How Russia took over Chernobyl|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/chernobyl-russian-occupation-nuclear-radiation-effects/|author-last=Kamenev |author-first=Maxim|access-date=24 June 2022|work=openDemocracy}}

A few hours later, Russian forces that had been stationed in Belarus broke into the exclusion zone through the village of Vilcha.{{cite web|date=24 June 2022|title=Near Chernobyl, Residents Recall Brutality Of Russian Invasion|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/chernobyl-ukraine-russia-shelling-survivors-civilians-/31912135.html|access-date=24 June 2022|work=RFE/RL}} By 2 p.m., they had reached the power plant's main administration office. In the following hours, the National Guard commanders and the staff administration negotiated a surrender with the Russian forces, and the Ukrainian government publicly announced that Russian forces had launched an attack on the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.{{cite news|date=24 February 2022 |title=Russian troops breach area near Chernobyl, adviser to Ukrainian minister says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-troops-breach-area-near-chernobyl-adviser-ukrainian-minister-says-2022-02-24/ |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224165453/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-troops-breach-area-near-chernobyl-adviser-ukrainian-minister-says-2022-02-24/ |url-status=live}}

The Ukrainian garrison in Chernobyl were not armed with heavy weapons or equipment, and thus could not fight Russian armored vehicles.{{Cite web |title=Defending Kyiv Region: Interview with Omega Special Unit Operator |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/articles/defending-kyiv-region-interview-with-omega-special-unit-operator/ |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}} The Ukrainian soldiers were encircled and two Tigr armored vehicles of the Russian Special Operations Forces entered the territory of the Nuclear Power Plant and gave an ultimatum, forcing the National Guard soldiers to surrender immediately.

By the end of the day, the Ukrainian government announced that Russian forces had captured Chernobyl and Pripyat. Following the Russian capture of the exclusion zone, the American government announced "credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage".{{cite news|date=24 February 2022 |title=White House Calls for Release of Any Hostages at Chernobyl Site |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news/card/L8tX4l44nrIyP8qzqwRP |last=Restuccia |first=Andrew |access-date=24 February 2022 |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224234510/https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news/card/L8tX4l44nrIyP8qzqwRP |url-status=live}}

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said "there had been no casualties nor destruction at the industrial site". Russia later reported that it was "working with Ukrainians to secure" the site.{{cite news|last1=Karmanau|first1=Yuras|last2=Heintz|first2=Jim|last3=Isachenkov|first3=Vladimir|last4=Litvinova|first4=Dasha|date=2022-02-25|url=https://www.boston.com/news/world-news/2022/02/25/ukraines-capital-under-threat-as-russia-presses-invasion/|title=Ukraine's capital under threat as Russia presses invasion|website=Boston.com|agency=Associated Press|access-date=2022-04-03|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320162921/https://www.boston.com/news/world-news/2022/02/25/ukraines-capital-under-threat-as-russia-presses-invasion/|url-status=live}}

Staff that had been working when the power plant was captured were unable to leave during the Russian occupation, and continued to maintain the plant's operation.{{cite web|date=16 June 2022|title=Chernobyl: The story of 35 days of Russian occupation|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/06/16/chernobyl-the-story-of-35-days-of-russian-occupation_5986980_4.html|author-last=Vincent|author-first=Faustine|access-date=24 June 2022|work=Le Monde}} The staff refused several requests by the Russian forces to be interviewed on Zvezda, a TV channel owned by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Russian forces set up a number of security checkpoints throughout the station and kept the staff under close surveillance.{{cite web|date=31 May 2022|title='No way out': Life under the Russians at Chernobyl|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/no-way-out-life-under-the-russians-at-chernobyl|access-date=24 June 2022|work=Radio France Internationale}}

On 9 March 2022, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said that the power supply of the Chernobyl NPP was damaged, it had lost power, and the diesel generator backup systems only had enough fuel to support cooling operations for 48 hours, so there was a danger of radiation leaks.{{cite tweet|number=1501531157510426625|user=DmytroKuleba|title=The only electrical grid supplying the Chornobyl NPP and all its nuclear facilities occupied by Russian army is damaged. CNPP lost all electric supply. I call on the international community to urgently demand Russia to cease fire and allow repair units to restore power supply 1/2|first=Dmytro|last=Kuleba|author-link=Dmytro Kuleba|date=9 March 2022|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310220934/https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1501531157510426625|archive-date=10 March 2022|url-status=live}} The risk was uncertain, but Russian military operations had already caused nuclear risks when they caused a fire in the takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.{{cite news |date=3 March 2022 |title=Live updates: Russian troops shelling nuclear power station |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-cbd6eed3e1b8f4946f5f490afd06b4be |access-date=4 March 2022 |work=Associated Press |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303234454/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-cbd6eed3e1b8f4946f5f490afd06b4be |url-status=live}}{{cite press release|title=Update 14 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |date=7 March 2022|access-date=26 March 2022 |url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-14-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310104450/https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-14-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine |archive-date=10 March 2022}} Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that the National Guard of Russia was running a "joint operation" with local workers and surrendered Ukrainian soldiers to maintain the containment operations of the Chernobyl NPP.{{cite news|url=https://tass.com/politics/1419025|title=Situation at Chernobyl NPP under joint control — Russian diplomat|agency=TASS|date=9 May 2022|access-date=26 March 2022|archive-date=13 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313064702/https://tass.com/politics/1419025|url-status=live}}

The IAEA released a statement expressing concern about the situation, but considered that the disconnection did not pose an immediate critical risk to operations, considering that the large volumes of water allowed sufficient cooling without electricity. Nevertheless, the agency recognised that lack of electricity was likely to deteriorate radiation safety, specifically through the increased workload and stress on the 210 personnel working without shift changes at the site. The IAEA has also expressed concern about the interruption of communications and the capacity of personnel to make decisions without undue pressure.{{cite press release|title=Update 16 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine|publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |date=9 March 2022|access-date=26 March 2022 |url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-16-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313194617/https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-16-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine |archive-date=13 March 2022}} On 10 March 2022, it was reported that all contact was lost.{{cite news|last1=Child|first1=David |last2=Gadzo|first2=Mersiha |last3=Najjar|first3=Farah |last4=Siddiqui|first4=Usaid |date=10 March 2022|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/10/ukraine-tells-iaea-it-lost-contact-chernobyl-plant-liveblog|title=Latest Ukraine updates: UN stresses 'urgent' need for talks |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=11 March 2022|archive-date=13 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313140744/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/10/ukraine-tells-iaea-it-lost-contact-chernobyl-plant-liveblog|url-status=live}}

On 20 March, Russian forces allowed some of the power plant's staff to leave and return home, in a swap with volunteers of staff that had been outside of the plant when it was captured to replace them. Six days later, Slavutych, the town constructed to house workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant following the disaster, was attacked by Russian forces.

File:Red Forest after Russian invasion (02).jpgs left at the Red Forest]]

Reuters reported that the Russian forces used the Red Forest as a route for their convoys, kicking up clouds of radioactive dust. Local workers said the Russian soldiers moving in those convoys were not using protective suits and could have potentially endangered themselves.{{cite news |date=2022-03-29 |title=Unprotected Russian soldiers disturbed radioactive dust in Chernobyl's 'Red Forest', workers say |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/unprotected-russian-soldiers-disturbed-radioactive-dust-chernobyls-red-forest-2022-03-28/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |archive-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329223027/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/unprotected-russian-soldiers-disturbed-radioactive-dust-chernobyls-red-forest-2022-03-28/ |url-status=live }} On 31 March 2022, a Ukrainian council member of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management claimed on his Facebook page that Russian troops were regularly removed from the exclusion zone surrounding Chernobyl and taken to the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology in Gomel, Belarus. This rumor led to further speculation in the press that the soldiers were suffering from acute radiation syndrome.{{cite magazine |last=Cole |first=Brendan |date=2022-03-31 |title=Russian Troops Sickened by Contaminated Chernobyl Soil: Official |url=https://www.newsweek.com/chernobyl-russia-troops-ukraine-yemelianenko-nuclear-1693714 |magazine=Newsweek |access-date=2022-03-31 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331195851/https://www.newsweek.com/chernobyl-russia-troops-ukraine-yemelianenko-nuclear-1693714 |url-status=live }} One Russian trooper was reported to have died due to radiation.{{Cite news |last=Kilner |first=James |date=2022-04-01 |title=Russian soldier dies from radiation poisoning in Chernobyl |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/04/01/russian-soldier-dies-radiation-poisoning-chernobyl/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401232743/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/04/01/russian-soldier-dies-radiation-poisoning-chernobyl/ |url-status=live }} On 6 April, images and videos of trenches, foxholes and other defensive structures at the Red Forest surfaced on the internet and news outlets.{{Cite news |last1=Kramer |first1=Andrew E. |last2=Prickett |first2=Ivor |date=2022-04-08 |title=Russian Blunders in Chernobyl: 'They Came and Did Whatever They Wanted' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/world/europe/ukraine-chernobyl.html |access-date=2022-04-12 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413023439/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/world/europe/ukraine-chernobyl.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Guenot |first=Marianne |title=Ukraine shares video it says proves Russian troops dug trenches in Chernobyl, disturbing radioactive soil |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-claims-video-proves-russian-troops-dug-trenches-near-chernobyl-2022-4 |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412204744/https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-claims-video-proves-russian-troops-dug-trenches-near-chernobyl-2022-4 |url-status=live }}

Local workers and scientists said Russian troops looted radioactive material from the laboratories.{{cite web |last=Guenot |first=Marianne |date=2022-04-01 |title=Chernobyl scientists accused looters of stealing radioactive material from labs there |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/radioactive-items-stolen-from-chernobyl-lab-in-russia-attack-scientists-2022-4 |website=Business Insider |access-date=2022-04-01 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401141312/https://www.businessinsider.com/radioactive-items-stolen-from-chernobyl-lab-in-russia-attack-scientists-2022-4 |url-status=live }}

{{Wikinews|Russia withdraws from Chernobyl in Ukraine}}

On 29 March, Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Alexander Fomin announced a withdrawal of Russian forces from the Kyiv area,{{cite news |last1=Qena |first1=Nebi |last2=Karmanau |first2=Yuras |date=2022-03-29 |title=Moscow says it will curb assault on Kyiv, Chernihiv; Russian troops seen withdrawing |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/moscow-says-it-will-curb-assault-on-kyiv-chernihiv-russian-troops-seen-withdrawing/ |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401020353/https://www.timesofisrael.com/moscow-says-it-will-curb-assault-on-kyiv-chernihiv-russian-troops-seen-withdrawing/ |url-status=live }} and on 1 April the State Agency on Exclusion Zone Management announced that Russian troops had completely withdrawn from the Chernobyl NPP.{{cite news |last1=Suliman |first1=Adela |last2=Francis |first2=Ellen |last3=Stern |first3=David L. |last4=Bearak |first4=Max |last5=Villegas |first5=Paulina |date=2022-04-01 |title=Russian troops have withdrawn from Chernobyl, Ukraine agency says |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/01/ukraine-chernobyl-russia-troops-withdraw/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401141559/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/01/ukraine-chernobyl-russia-troops-withdraw/ |url-status=live }}

Following the Russian withdrawal, staff at the power plant raised the Ukrainian flag back over the plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced that the IAEA would be sending a support mission to the plant "as soon as possible."{{cite web|date=1 April 2022|title=UN Atomic Agency Chief Says He'll Lead Support Mission To Chernobyl 'As Soon As Possible'|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/chernobyl-grossi-support-mission-russian-troops/31781346.html|access-date=24 June 2022|work=RFE/RL}} On 3 April, Ukrainian forces re-entered the exclusion zone.

Following the return of Ukrainian control, significant damage to parts of the plant's offices was noted, including graffiti and smashed windows. The Washington Post further estimated that around 135 million US dollars worth of equipment had been destroyed, namely computers, vehicles, and radiation dosimeters.{{cite web|date=3 June 2022|title=Inside Chernobyl nuclear plant devastated by Russian troops as $135m of equipment destroyed|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chernobyl-nuclear-russian-invasion-b2093272.html|author-last=Middleton|author-first=Joe|access-date=24 June 2022|work=The Independent}}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian capture of the zone a "declaration of war against the whole of Europe".

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, was quoted as saying that it was a "totally pointless attack", and "the condition of the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant, confinement, and nuclear waste storage facilities is unknown".{{cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Brent D. |title=Russian troops seize Chernobyl's remnants after a battle, risking Western efforts to contain one of the world's most radioactive sites |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-troops-attack-through-chernobyl-exclusion-zone-risks-2022-2 |access-date=25 February 2022 |work=Business Insider |date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225003338/https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-troops-attack-through-chernobyl-exclusion-zone-risks-2022-2 |url-status=live}} The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that there were "no casualties nor destruction at the industrial site" but that it was "of vital importance that the safe and secure operations of the nuclear facilities in that zone should not be affected or disrupted in any way".{{cite press release|title=IAEA Director General Statement on the Situation in Ukraine |url=https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-director-general-statement-on-the-situation-in-ukraine|publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |date=24 February 2022|access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224205434/https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-director-general-statement-on-the-situation-in-ukraine |url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Murphy |first=Francois |date=24 February 2022 |title=IAEA says Ukraine nuclear power plants running safely, no 'destruction' at Chernobyl |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-says-ukraine-power-plants-running-safely-no-destruction-chernobyl-2022-02-24/|access-date=24 February 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224211438/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iaea-says-ukraine-power-plants-running-safely-no-destruction-chernobyl-2022-02-24/ |url-status=live}}

File:Battle of Ivankiv (2022).png

In the greater picture of the Kyiv offensive, the capture of Chernobyl could be considered a waypoint for Russian troops advancing towards Kyiv. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the United States Army Europe, stated that the exclusion zone was "important because of where it sits... If Russian forces were attacking Kyiv from the north, Chernobyl is right there on the way." Former American Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia Evelyn Farkas said that the Russian forces "want to surround the capital" and that they "certainly don't want loose nuclear material floating around" in case of a Ukrainian insurgency.{{cite news|date=24 February 2022 |title=Why would Russia want to take Chernobyl? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/russia-want-take-chernobyl-rcna17615 |last=Seitz-Wald |first=Alex |access-date=24 February 2022 |publisher=NBC News |archive-date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224223748/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/russia-want-take-chernobyl-rcna17615 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Mohammed |first1=Arshad |last2=Landay |first2=Jonathan |title=Explainer: Why Russia and Ukraine are fighting for Chernobyl disaster site |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/why-russia-ukraine-are-fighting-chernobyl-disaster-site-2022-02-25/ |date=24 February 2022|access-date=25 February 2022 |work=Reuters |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225034346/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/why-russia-ukraine-are-fighting-chernobyl-disaster-site-2022-02-25/ |url-status=live}}

The exclusion zone is important for containing fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986; as such, Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs adviser Anton Herashchenko said that "if the occupiers' artillery strikes hit the nuclear waste storage facility, radioactive dust may cover the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and the EU countries".{{cite news |last=Shabad |first=Rebecca |title='This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe': Zelenskyy warns Russia is trying to seize Chernobyl |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/live-blog/russia-ukraine-conflict-live-updates-n1289655/ncrd1289759 |access-date=24 February 2022 |publisher=NBC News |date=24 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224231047/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/live-blog/russia-ukraine-conflict-live-updates-n1289655/ncrd1289759 |archive-date=24 February 2022 |url-status=live}} According to BBC News, monitoring stations in the area reported a 20-fold increase in radiation levels, up to {{val|65|ul=µSv/h}}. For comparison, the average person is exposed to {{val|.41|u=µSv/h}} from background radiation. At {{val|65|u=µSv/h}} it would require more than a month of continuous exposure to meet the conservative yearly exposure limit for US radiation workers.{{cite web |date=June 2010 |title=Ionizing Radiation Dose Ranges (Rem and Sievert charts) |url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1209/ML120970113.pdf |access-date=2018-05-28 |publisher=United States Department of Energy |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120122901/https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1209/ML120970113.pdf |url-status=live }} This does not account for inhaled or ingested radioactive particles, which increase exposure rates. Claire Corkhill of the University of Sheffield stated that the increase was localised and was due in part to "increased movement of people and vehicles in and around the Chernobyl zone [that] will have kicked up radioactive dust that's on the ground".{{cite news|date=25 February 2022 |title=Chernobyl: Radiation spike at nuclear plant seized by Russian forces |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60528828 |last=Gill |first=Victoria |access-date=25 February 2022 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225165134/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-60528828 |url-status=live}}

{{Div col}}

• Battle of Enerhodar
• Environmental impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• Impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on nuclear power plants
• Russian occupation of Kyiv Oblast

{{End div col}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web |last=Al-Arshani |first=Sarah |date=2022-04-02 |title=Ukrainian flag raised over Chernobyl nuclear plant after Russian troops withdraw |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-regains-control-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-2022-4 |website=Business Insider |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-date=3 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403032825/https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-regains-control-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-2022-4 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite book| last = Plokhy| first = Serhii |author-link=Serhii Plokhy| title = Chernobyl Roulette: A War Story| publisher = Allen Lane| date = 2024| isbn = 978-0241681251}}

{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

{{Chernobyl disaster}}

{{Nuclear power in Ukraine}}

Chernobyl

Category:Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

Category:Chernobyl, Ukraine

Category:February 2022 in Ukraine

Category:Kyiv Oblast in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Battles of the Northern front of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Chernobyl

Category:Nuclear power plants and the Russian invasion of Ukraine