The word ‘Chernobyl’ sends a shiver down the spine of most Europeans, and with good reason: it was the site of the world’s worst nuclear catastrophe. Now it has been seized by Russian forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. So what is Putin up to? And does the world need to worry? The simple answer is yes: this is an act of war that could end up affecting us all.
Radiation levels have reportedly increased at the site since the invasion, potentially in response to Russian shelling or radioactive dust being kicked into the air after the arrival of heavy military equipment in the area. There could be catastrophic consequences should more of the site be damaged. There is a risk of ecological and nuclear disaster at the site. But is the West listening?
Mykhailo Podolyak, an official in the Ukrainian president’s office, has warned:
So what it Putin up to?
‘It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians’
The decision to seize the site of the wreckage of the nuclear power plant offers an insight into Putin’s mindset.
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