See troubling discoveries inside Chernobyl after Russians fled
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Published 2022-04-09
Ukrainians shocked by 'crazy' scene at Chernobyl after Russian pullout reveals radioactive contamination
Chernobyl, Ukraine (CNN)The sudden ear-piercing beep of a radiation meter fills the room as a Ukrainian soldier walks in. This is where Russian soldiers were living at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and radiation levels are now higher than normal.
There's no visible presence of the source of the radioactive material in the room, but Ukrainian officials say it's coming from small particles and dust that the soldiers brought into the building.
"They went to the Red Forest and brought radioactive material back with them on their shoes," soldier Ihor Ugolkov explains. "Other places are fine, but radiation increased here, because they were living here."
CNN was given exclusive access to the power plant for the first time since it came back into Ukrainian control.
Officials at the plant explain the levels inside the room used by Russian soldiers are only slightly above what the World Nuclear Association describes as naturally occurring radiation. One-time contact would not be dangerous but continuous exposure would pose a health hazard.
"They went everywhere, and they also took some radioactive dust on them [when they left]," Ugolkov adds.
It's an example of what Ukrainian officials say was the lax and careless behavior of Russian soldiers while they were in control of the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. The area around Chernobyl, namely the Red Forest, is still the most nuclear contaminated area on the planet, with most of the radioactive particles present on the soil.
Read more at: www.cnn.com/2022/04/08/europe/chernobyl-russian-wi…
All Comments (21)
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You can take the Russian troops out of Chernobyl, but you can’t take Chernobyl out of the Russian troops.
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I'll bet HBO never thought they'd get material for a sequel to Chernobyl.
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The Red Forest was so contaminated in areas that the trees died but didn't rot because most of the microbes and wildlife died, the Soviets had to dig up and bury the most contaminated trees and topsoil. Absolutely not an area you want to start digging trenches and bunkers in. I'm so impressed with the engineers at the facility, they knew they had a job to do despite the war situation and kept at it, trying to keep the generators running and monitor the stored material as best they could.
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I wouldn’t imagine Chernobyl being too hard to capture, after all it being an exclusion zone for people. It just is mind blowing the disregard for safety. Unbelievable.
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Russian soldier: "We are dug in and ready for an attack, but nobody has tried to take it from us. It's almost as if they don't want this place."
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Burrowing into contaminated soil says a lot about the intelligence of Russian soldiers.
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5:13 "The Russians have no concept of nuclear safety", the soviet Russians caused Chornobyl in 1986 because of their lack of a concept of nuclear safety.
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I'm a radiation protection expert and I think this video was well done. 11.3 microSievert per hour is indeed significant, but not really dangerous. It is the maximum a radiation worker may receive during work hours for a full year before reaching the dose limit. The evidence for radiation induced damage starts at 200,000 microSievert. I don't expect the Russian soldiers have received that amount or more, but I don't have sufficient data to be 100 percent certain. Kind regards from the Netherlands!
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The Russian soldiers are leaving 'glowing reviews' on their stay at Chernobyl.
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"Who needs night vision when you can see your enemy glowing from a mile away"
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In 1986, a huge area around the reactor had such high levels of fall-out in the top soil, they dug up all the topsoil and buried it under itself, to stop radioactive dust being spread by the wind. That topsoil remains radioactive for centuries. You start digging trenches and foxholes in that area, you will dig it up. And, unless you're very, very well protected, which is unlikely, it will kill you. These Russians are insane, or were, soon.
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"If you invading an area with a broken power plant don't inform yourself about the nasty boring details of the surrounding terrain. Just feel at home and do what you would normally do and dig trenches wherever you feel to!" – Sun Tzu, Art of War
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love the solder's smirk when he said the Russians took the radiation with them
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Being locked away in the bomb shelter while the russians are digging trenches in the red forrest must be one of the best scenarios for the workers and staff in chernobyl, they avoided inhaling those deadly dust from the digging and movement of heavy equipment above
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Those Russian troops involved digging defense positions at the site will die from the radiation. Incredible ignorance of the dangers involved, or total lack of concern by on site military leadership.
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It's crazy how just 8 years ago when the Russians first invaded, the Ukrainians were using 1960s and 70s Soviet equipment, now they are using the most advanced NATO equipment, crazy how far the've come in such a short time!
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"Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it."
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Well, it looks like HBO can start prepare another season of Chernobyl mini-serie. This unbelievable stupidity definitely deserves to be filmed. 😂
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"Radiation is physics- it works regardless of status or shoulder ranks"
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"Radiation has increased on this floor." What a great idea to bring the reporter and operator there without protective clothing.
