Ukraine’s nuclear agency reported this Friday of a rise in radiation levels in the Chernobyl exclusion zone that was seized this Thursday by Russian forces.
According to a statement from the agency, posted on Facebook, automated radiation control systems in the exclusion zone available online indicate that has increased at several observation points.
However, “due to the occupation and hostilities” in the area, it is currently “impossible” to establish the reasons of increased radiation.
The Russian Army yesterday occupied the old nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, scene of the greatest nuclear catastrophe of history, after heavy fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
the ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyconsidered this capture “a declaration of war against all of Europe”. Kiev warned that if the radioactive debris is damaged, “nuclear dust can spread throughout the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and the countries of the European Union (EU)”. Zelensky praised the dedication of his soldiers “so that the tragedy of 1986 is not repeated”but admitted that the Russian soldiers ended up breaking the Ukrainian resistance, which lost control over Chernobyl.
This Friday, the Russian Ministry of Defense has refuted the statements about the rise in the level of radiation in the area. According to the spokesman for the Russian portfolio, Igor Konashénkov, the Russian military is in charge of the protection of the Chernobyl facilities together with a Ukrainian battalion that is in charge of ensure the safety of the old nuclear power plant.
“An agreement has been reached with the Ukrainian special protection battalion of the Chernobyl power plant to jointly ensure the safety of nuclear reactors and plant sarcophagus“, said.
Reassuring message from the International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports that the increase in radiation at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant does not pose any danger for the population. The IAEA indicated that the radioactivity values measured by the Ukrainian nuclear agency, 9.46 microsievert per hour, they’re short and remain “within the measured operating range” of the so-called exclusion zone around Chernobyl, and thus “do not pose any danger to the public“.
This UN body explained that the Ukrainian nuclear authorities have indicated that the increase in radioactivity detected may be due to the fact that the passage of heavy military vehicles through the area has removed soil still contaminated for the 1986 accident, the most serious in the history of the nuclear industry.
The director general of the IAEA, the Argentine Raphael Grossihas requested the “utmost restraint” to prevent any action that could endanger nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
Source: Lasexta
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