More than 10,000 hectares of the Chornobyl zone have been engulfed in fires during the occupation

SUNDAY 2 APRIL 2022, 00:34

More than 10,000 hectares of land in the exclusion zone have been engulfed in fires during the Russian military presence there.

Source: Yevhen Kramarenko, the head of the State Agency for Exclusion Zone Management, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "We have recorded fires in the western part of the exclusion zone - on the border with Zhytomyr region, and near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

During this time, according to the analysis of satellite images, we have counted more than 10,000 hectares. All these fires have been extinguished, partly with the help of rescuers, partly due to weather conditions."

Details: According to the head of the State Agency for Exclusion Zone Management, part of the reason for the fires in the exclusion zone may have been military action as a result of the presence of Russian troops.. 

Quote: "Part of the fires, in the western part of the exclusion zone, were partly caused by hostilities. This is most likely what caused the fires... Near the nuclear power plant itself, some of our employees noticed that the exhaust system of the tanks was sparking very badly while they were moving, which repeatedly led to the burning of dry grass."

Background: Russian troops occupied the Chornobyl nuclear power plant on the first day of the war, on 24 February, and withdrew on 31 March.