Increased radiation level observed in Chernobyl after nuclear power plant capture by Russian troops | War Ukraine and Russia

Russian troops invaded the Chernobyl area yesterday and managed to take control of the nuclear power plant. The fighting allegedly destroyed a nuclear waste storage facility.

Klaas Van Der Meer – expert at the Mol Nuclear Research Center – explained to HLN LIVE yesterday that they could not find any usable nuclear material for nuclear weapons, but a limited amount of radioactive material for terrorist attacks, for example.

However, according to the Ukrainian parliament, a significant number of observation points in the exclusion zone (an area made inaccessible because of the radioactive contamination) have meanwhile observed increased gamma radiation. That has been confirmed by the country’s nuclear agency, which did not provide exact figures. According to the agency, the increase in radiation is due to the passage of heavy military material into the area, which is stirring up radioactive dust.

According to the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (EURDEP), there is no increase in the rest of Ukraine and Europe. “It is therefore a very local phenomenon”, according to our science journalist Martijn Peters. In other words, we don’t have to worry about our health in Belgium.

According to cards from environmental organization SaveDnipro the radiation level at the site would be about 65 μSv (or 65,000 nSv) higher than normal. “That’s not an alarming amount,” said Peters. “By comparison: in Belgium you ingest 2,400 μSv (2,400,000 nSv) in one year through natural exposure. A week of skiing in the mountains is good for 5µSv and a CT scan of the abdomen gives you 7,000 µSv (7,000,000 nSv).”

Russia denies that there is an abnormal radiation level. According to the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, everything would be normal. Russia has also deployed special forces to guard the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In the meantime, the staff of the power station will continue to maintain the facilities. He denies that the people are being held hostage.

Chernobyl was the scene of the worst nuclear disaster ever in 1986. The city on the border with Belarus was then still part of the Soviet Union. Even then it was initially said that nothing was wrong.

In the middle of the night of April 26, 1986, the nuclear power plant’s Reactor 4 exploded after a failed safety test. According to the World Health Organization, 9,000 people died directly and indirectly, but estimates vary widely. For example, Greenpeace speaks of 200,000 direct and indirect deaths. The disaster released nuclear clouds that spread over much of Europe.

At the beginning of this month, Ukrainian soldiers were still practicing in the area around the reactor.

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