Chernobyl
Posted: 25th February 2022
Russian forces have gained control of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, and reports of fire fights at the site have led to concerns about the release of radioactive material from the plant, which experienced a catastrophic meltdown in 1986. But physicists say the risk of radioactive emissions as a result of accidental damage is minimal. Ukraine’s Ministryof Foreign Affairs tweeted that Russia’s actions could “cause another ecological disaster”, while the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted: “Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of1986 will not be repeated.” But Bruno Merk at the University of Liverpool, UK, says the risk of nuclear material being released from the decaying reactor as a result of the conflict is low. “I think as long as there is not a deliberate attack the risk is comparably low,” he says.“If it’s a deliberate act, you could possibly do it.” New Scientist 24th Feb 2022 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2309599-risk-of-nuclear-disaster-is-minimal-as-russian-forces-reach-chernobyl/ Russian forces have seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office said Thursday, according to Reuters. The latest: The U.S. is “outraged by credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a press briefing Thursday evening. Axios 24th Feb 2022 https://www.axios.com/ukraine-zelensky-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-2f549a11-6bc3-466c-bf30-23fafb41b3a3.html CNN 25th Feb 2022 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/24/europe/ukraine-chernobyl-russia-intl/index.html Fighting between Russian forces and Ukraine has now reached Chernobyl, as the country’s president and interior minister have warned of the dangers of artillery fire striking nuclear waste storage facilities. Newsweek 24th Feb 2022 https://www.newsweek.com/battle-chernobyl-nuclear-zone-ukraine-russia-radioactive-dust-invasion-1682287 Chernobyl: Why Russia has seized the nuclear disaster site as Ukraine hit by second day of attacks. Chernobyl is home to the world’s worst nuclear disaster in human history and contains dangerously high radiation levels.The reason for the Kremlin’s seizure of the nuclear site is not due to its radioactivity, but due to its close proximity to Kyiv. Chernobyl sits on the shortest route from Belarus to the Ukrainian capital and so forms a key route for invading Russian forces. It will allow neighbouring Belarus, an ally of Moscow that has already assisted with the invasion of Ukriane, a fast invasion route to Kyiv. iNews 25th Feb 2022 https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-disaster-why-russia-seized-it-belarus-ukraine-kyiv-1482858 It is the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, and now Ukrainian officials say that the area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear reactor is under Russian control. On Friday, Ukraine said radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant has exceeded control levels after Russia troops took control of the area. The reactor at Chernobyl infamously melted down in April 1986 during a test, covering much of Europe in a radioactive cloud. At that time, Ukraine remained a part of the Soviet Union, and to this day a highly protected 20-mile exclusion zone had existed around the site, which entombs a highly dangerous amount of nuclear material. Irish Independent 25th Feb 2022 https://www.independent.ie/world-news/chernobyl-why-did-russian-troops-take-control-of-infamous-nuclear-disaster-site-41383558.html Ukraine’s nuclear energy regulatory agency says that higher than usual gamma radiation levels have been detected in the area near the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant, after it was seized by the Russian military. Khaleej Times 25th Feb 2022 https://www.khaleejtimes.com/europe/russia-ukraine-crisis-nuclear-agency-finds-chernobyl-radiation-rise Radiation levels have increased at Chernobyl after Russian troops seized the area yesterday, Ukraine warns. Russian forces took control of the defunct plant in a ‘fierce’ battle on Thursday. The condition of the plant was unknown, but sparked fears of a radiation leak. Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said Friday that higher gamma radiation levels havebeen detected in the Chernobyl zone. Russian officials denied this, claiming radiation levels at the site were normal. Daily Mail 25th Feb 2022 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10550897/Ukraine-Radiation-levels-increased-Chernobyl-Russian-troops-seized-area-yesterday.html The White House has reviewed “credible reports” that Russian troops are holding staff inside Ukraine’s Chernobyl nuclear power plant hostage, after Russian forces captured the facilities as Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale assault inside the country. “We’re outraged by credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of theChernobyl facilities hostage,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on 24 February. “This unlawful and dangerous hostage-taking which could upend the routine civil service efforts required to maintain and protect the nuclear waste facility is obviously incredibly alarming and incredibly concerning, and we request their release,” she said. Independent 24th Feb 2022 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chernobyl-ukraine-russia-nuclear-power-plant-b2022674.html Adi Roche pleads for war to stop as Chernobyl base taken by Russian forces. ‘My worst nightmare in this conflict is that the tragedy of theChernobyl disaster could be re-released on the world’. Irish Mirror 25th Feb 2022 https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/adi-roche-pleads-war-stop-26325854