Forest fires are recorded in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, captured by Russian troops. It is not yet possible to extinguish them due to the temporary occupation of the territory.
This was reported by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate).
According to the agency, the radiation state is now deteriorating in the Exclusion Zone and beyond due to forest fires in radioactively contaminated areas.< /p>
During March 11-18, fires were observed mainly in the western and central parts of the Chernobyl zone. They lead to an increase in the level of radioactive air pollution.
– Extinguishing fires is impossible due to the occupation of the Exclusion Zone by Russian troops, — noted in the department.
The State Inspectorate warns: if the current situation continues, this will provoke in the near future a significant deterioration in the radiation state both in the Chernobyl zone and far beyond its borders – not only in Ukraine , but also in other states.
Several reasons can lead to a worsening of the situation:
1.Currently, the automated system for monitoring the radiation state does not work in the Chernobyl zone. Therefore, there is no information about the current state of radiation pollution.
2. Fire services are not able to extinguish forest fires in the Chernobyl zone due to its capture by Russian troops.
3.Forest fires now, in the cold season, are not a typical occurrence for the Exclusion Zone. And during the warm period, fires can reach such intensity that this will lead to a significant deterioration in the radiation state throughout Europe.
– There is a high probability that in the spring-summer period, the intensity of forest fires in the Exclusion Zone can reach the maximum possible limits, which will lead (in the absence of any fire-fighting measures) to the almost complete burnout of radioactively contaminated forests in the Exclusion Zone and, accordingly, to a significant deterioration in the radiation state in Ukraine and throughout Europe, — emphasized in the department.
What is known about the capture of the Chernobyl Zone by Russian troops
On the very first day of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, February 24, Russian troops captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and those located in the Zone alienation of objects.
Monitoring the state of nuclear and radiation safety at the nuclear power plant site and in the Chernobyl zone is impossible, as is the control of nuclear materials.
Russian troops have already disabled the high-voltage power line several times, providing power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as the city of Slavutych.
Since February 24, there has been no rotation of the personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The station workers were exhausted physically and mentally. The rotation was carried out on March 20 after about 600 hours of personnel work.
After the capture of the Chernobyl zone by Russian troops, forest fires began to be recorded. It was suggested that the fire was caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation (projectile hit) or deliberate arson.
