The risk of leaking radioactive waste across Europe from the Chernobyl nuclear plant

Fighting between Russia and Ukraine that broke out around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant could tamper with nuclear waste, causing dangerous radioactive material to spread across Europe.

Recently, the AP news agency quoted Myhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, as saying that the country had lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant after a skirmish with Russian forces on February 24. The adviser also warned: "It is difficult to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe."

The storage facility at Chernobyl, which contains the reactor's fallout, may have been accidentally destroyed due to the outbreak of fighting.

The fighting took place as part of Russia's full-blown military campaign into Ukraine, considered the largest military war against a European country since World War II. Besides political reasons, the dangerous level of radioactive waste leakage is also of particular concern to international authorities.

Risk of large-area radioactive waste leakage

One of the most radioactive sites in the world, much of the area around the Chernobyl plant remains closed since the catastrophic nuclear accident, considered the largest in history. in 1986.

That year, two large explosions at the plant blew off the nuclear reactor's lid with a mass of 2,000 tons, shook buildings, and sprayed radioactive material into the air, covering an area up to 2,600 km wide. surrounded by nuclear fallout.

The region was then considered "unhabitable" for at least 24,000 years - equivalent to the half-lives of many dominant radioactive elements such as transuranium.

Inside a kindergarten in the abandoned city of Pripyat.

"The Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Our defenders are sacrificing their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 is not repeated," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on February 24.

An adviser to Ukraine's Interior Ministry also warned that fighting around the power plant could lead to the potential for nuclear waste to be tampered with, and the spread of dangerous radioactive material across Europe.

"The shelling by the occupiers can cause the destruction of nuclear waste storage facilities, causing fallout that can cover the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and the countries of the European Union." Anton Gerashchenko, adviser and former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, wrote on Facebook.

"Ghost" still haunts the town of Pripyat

Pripyat - a city that was once closed and described as a "ghost town", has now been built to serve the nuclear plant and house staff, as well as the nearby city of Chernobyl.

However, it is reported that since 1986, thousands of people, usually men, have returned to work in the area around the factory. Their work usually happens only in two-week shifts, to ensure that critical infrastructure in both cities continues to function.

The entrance to the town of Pripyat.

As of 2016, about 180 people are believed to be living in radiation-affected areas. Although not officially accepted, the state still supports them in daily life. Their pension is transferred once a month, and food is delivered every two to three months by a mobile shop.

According to scientific reports, Chernobyl still recorded a significant increase in mortality and a decrease in the life expectancy of humans and animal populations. Along with that comes many tumors and immune system defects, circulatory and respiratory system disorders, and premature aging.

Not only the animals, but also the flora in Chernobyl were severely affected. After 35 years of disaster, the land and trees are still contaminated by radiation.

Despite the above-mentioned radiation threats, the radioactive area in Chernobyl is still like a "magnet" attracting tourists curious about life here after the disaster. In 2019, the number of annual visitors increased to 124,000 after the HBO series about the history of the Chernobyl plant.

However, visitors to the area must wear special anti-radiation clothing and are warned to avoid eating any food or drink outside.

It is estimated that the amount of radiation received by visitors during a factory visit does not exceed 0.1 Millisievert (mSv). This is a relatively safe level, as long as visitors comply with the regulations of the local authorities.