Russian soldiers setting up offensive positions in theChernobylExclusion Zone have fall sick from radiation sickness , grant to multiple media outlets .
After entering the intemperately ray areas of the EZ early in the invasion , it was suspected that truckloads of soldiers leave the field developed illness , and it appears diplomats have since sustain it harmonize to theIndependent .
nuclear reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant entered meltdown on April 26 , 1986 , result in a catastrophic explosion that sent irradiated cloth gamey into the atmosphere and across Europe . After showering the immediate orbit with contaminated dust , a large 2,600 straight kilometer ( 1,000 square mile ) exclusion geographical zone was created to avoid continued photo to the general public . The region was strictly monitored by military guard , but could actually be visited by tourists due to a safe radioactivity level – so long as you wear long sleeves , do n’t interrupt the ground , and keep off the “ red wood ” .
The Russian soldiers that used the EZ as a point of entering into Ukraine , however , did n’t keep up these of import safety rules . To secure their positions , they reportedly start digging trenches in the cover charge of the forested areas , which absorbed a enceinte amount of the fallout accompany the disaster . Disturbing the ground and vegetation in the area is a surefire way to find dangerous dosage of radiation , and the soldiers reportedly camped there for around five week . They also fished in the canal for siluriform fish – wolffish in the cool off pond of the plantare knownto be abnormally large ( though likely not because of radiation , rather because they have been left undisturbed for decennium ) .
grant to theTimes , local Ukrainians that refused to evacuate the area even warned the soldier of the danger of doing so , but the soldiers continue . They reportedly have a go at it the risks but were “ just thick ” , one occupier said , and so disregard them .
The Russians entered the EZ on February 24 , 2022 , and stayed in place until April 1 , 2022 , when Ukrainian troops go up a successful counterattack to secure the area .
diplomatist have allegedly confirm that soldiers did in fact fall ill as a result . Although the locals state they warn the soldiers , it is indecipherable if all of them lie with of the risk of exposure . It is almost certain that leadership knew of the risks , but many Russians are not taught of the cataclysm in schools and many may have been incognizant of the dangers pose by the forest .