Russia took the power plant on Thursday
Excess levels of radiation are being reported at the Chernobyl power plant, a Ukrainian government organisation has claimed, a day after Russian forces took it over.
However, the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine (SINR) is not sure what is behind the spike and says it’s “impossible” to determine the exact cause, reports the Mirror.
Read the first story: Russian forces enter Chernobyl to seize nuclear plant, says Ukraine president
SINR claims that data from the automated radiation monitoring system in the exclusion zone is showing increased levels of gamma radiation.
Posting on its Facebook page, the government body wrote: “Data from the automated radiation monitoring system of the exclusion zone, which is available online, indicate that the control levels of gamma radiation dose rate (red dots) have been exceeded at a significant number of observation points.
“But now it is currently impossible to establish the reasons for the change in the radiation background in the exclusion zone because of the occupation and military fight in this territory.”
However, Russian officials have denied any increase and said they would send paratroopers to guard the nuclear reactor.
A spokesperson for Russia’s defence ministry said, “Radiation levels at the plant are normal” during a briefing held on February 25.
Updating watchers on the war effort, the official added that troops had destroyed 118 Ukrainian military infrastructure sites.
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attack on Chernobyl on Thursday, writing on Twitter: “Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”
Related links:
- Ukraine invasion: Everything we know so far and what it means for the UK
- Ukraine’s Twitter compares Putin to Hitler after Russia launch full-scale invasion
- Putin says West will face ‘consequences never encountered in your history’ in chilling warning
- Trump calls Putin ‘savvy’ and ‘genius’ as escalations on Russia-Ukraine border rise
