New satellite images indicate that Russian troops were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during their stay for over five weeks at the contaminated area of the Chernobyl nuclear site. Although the levels are insufficient to cause sudden radiation poisoning, experts say they can increase the long-term risk of cancer.
Ukraine's state energy company Energoatom said that Russian troops who had occupied the nuclear station at Chernobyl may have been exposed to "significant doses" of radiation.
The Chernobyl disaster of 1986 caused radioactive material to spread throughout the region. After the accident, people are not allowed to live or grow crops at the Red Forest, which is the most contaminated part of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Even Chernobyl staff are banned from entering this area. A 30 km area surrounding the nuclear plant is considered dangerous.
After the Russian forces left Chernobyl on March 31, there were reports on social media that its troops at Chernobyl had fallen ill when they stayed at the place and digging trenches on the site. The top layers of soil were removed as the Russian soldiers dug their trenches. and thus they came in contact with soil containing radioactive waste.
"You shouldn't go into a contaminated site and have people camping out and digging in the dirt," says Kathryn Higley, a radiation health physicist at Oregon State University told NPR.
Ukrainian forces took control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after the Russian forces retreated.
"The invaders did not dig anything on the territory of the plant itself, but the thick dust raised by equipment in transit, and the radiation particles in it, may very well have entered the bodies of Russian occupiers through the lungs," Valerіy Seyda, director of the nuclear power plant, said in a statement.
Belarusian Telegram channel had reported that military vehicles carrying reytreatinig Russian soldiers were arriving at a hospital in the city of Gomel, which specialises in treating radiation.
The International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA) said in a statement on Friday that was aware of the reports that Russian troops presence at the zone, but unable to confirm reports that Russian troops were exposed to high doses of radiation. Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said he would be heading a mission to the nucleart plant as soon as possible. "I will head an @IAEAorg assistance and support mission to the #Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant as soon as possible. It will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to #Ukraine," Grossi tweeted.