Russian tanks entered Chernobyl, about 65 miles north of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on February 24, the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but new details about the occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear plant are just emerging, according to Reuters. Troops drove armored vehicles through the Red Forest, causing rising levels of radioactivity due to the resulting radioactive disturbance around the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The Russian convoy did not use any radiation equipment during the Chernobyl shooting, which was “suicidal,” according to Chernobyl officials. An official said the radioactive dust inhaled by Russian soldiers was likely to cause internal radiation to their bodies. Despite the Russian invasion, Chernobyl crew members continue to work to safely dispose of the spent nuclear fuel on the site and monitor the remains of the reactor that exploded more than 35 years ago. The Russian government has insisted that radiation remains normal after the capture of Chernobyl. The Russian military claims that the occupation of Chernobyl prevented “nuclear provocations” that may have been planned by Ukrainian nationalists. Dozens of workers at a nuclear plant were allowed to go home last week after spending about 600 hours at the site after it was occupied by Russian forces.
