SBU collects evidence of Russian nuclear terrorism in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

19.07.2022 16:10

Ukrinform

The Security Service of Ukraine has gathered what the agency says is “indisputable evidence” that the Russian military units, which had once seized the facilities of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and held them under control from February 24 to March 31, had in fact committed an act of nuclear terrorism.

The SBU reported this in Telegram, as seen by Ukrinform.

Although the reactors are decommissioned, the facility remains a huge complex with three spent nuclear fuel storage facilities and a number of radioactive waste storage sites. Russia has turned the Chornobyl NPP into a temporary military base, which grossly violated the Geneva Convention, explicitly prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities in armed conflict, the SBU emphasized.

The invaders also violated nuclear safety regulations as they damaged the premises and mined the territory; prevented regular external monitoring of radiation levels and continuous supply of spare parts, fuel, and consumables; held NPP staff under high duress, increasing the likelihood of their professional errors during wor shifts.

As reported by Ukrinform, on July 1, the Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv region said the law enforcers had identified 37 Russian soldiers who are now accused of crimes committed in the region. Among the suspects are two major generals with the Russian Guard. One of them directly oversaw the operation to seize the Chornobyl NPP, while the other managed the operation to illegally hold the NPP’s staffers.