‘Abnormal’ levels of radiation at Chernobyl fter Russian troops occupation
The threat of nuclear disaster has moved one step closer after it was revealed that radiation levels at Chernobyl nuclear power station are now “abnormal”.
The comments came from the International Atomic Energy Agency's director general Rafael Grossi.
He told reporters in Russia that the site was “very, very dangerous”, after weeks of fighting in the area due to Russia attempting to capture the site which was home to the worst nuclear disaster in history in 1986.
Mr Grossi said: "The radiation level, I would say, is abnormal. There have been some moments when the levels have gone up because of the movement of the heavy equipment that Russian forces were bringing here and when they left.
"We are following that day by day."
It comes just weeks after claims that Russian soldiers dug trenches inside the contaminated Chernobyl exclusion zone were seemingly verified thanks to new drone footage. Footage verified by geolocation website liveuamap.com shows trenches dug deep into the ground just a few miles away from the now-covered former nuclear power plant in Chernobyl.
Russian generals have gone on record to say that Russian troops getting “radiation sickness” at Chernobyl is “fake news”, but now it appears that it could be true.
The drone video clearly shows the trenches in the area, and it then pans out to show the plan nearby.
The trenches are also believed to be in the middle of the exclusion zone, which is still heavily radiated, more than 30 years after the nuclear plant exploded to release nuclear waste into the area.
A Russian soldier had reportedly died from radiation poisoning after being stationed at Chernobyl, too.
The troop had been camping in the Red Forest, which is located within the exclusion zone of the hazardous nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
A 1,000 square-mile exclusion zone was set up around Chernobyl in 1986 after the worst nuclear disaster in human history.
He was a member of the group of Russian soldiers which first captured the area towards the start of Putin's 'special military operation' in the nation, according to reports in The Telegraph.
The area nicknamed the red forest – after the pine trees that turned red after being exposed to highly radioactive waste – is considered so highly toxic that not even specially-trained Chernobyl workers are allowed to enter the zone, with checks being done on anyone who does happen to enter, just in case they end up contaminated with nuclear fallout.
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