Chernobyl Workers Face Radiation and War Threats

Workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are operating under difficult conditions due to the ongoing war. Russian forces occupied the zone in 2022, leaving mines behind, and now use the area as a flight path for drones and missiles. Employees work in shifts, sometimes for up to 13 days consecutively, to manage radiation levels and plant operations. The New Safe Confinement structure, built in 2016, aims to further contain radiation from the destroyed Reactor No. 4. The plant's deputy chief engineer, Oleksandar Skomorow, stated that the war affects their working conditions, requiring shifts and extended stays at the facility. Ensuring nuclear safety and radiation protection remains a continuous process, according to plant General Director Serhit Tarakanov. Liquidators are working alongside and underneath the neutralized reactor to manage the site. They are tasked with clearing radioactive debris from the reactor roof by hand. Helicopters are dropping sand and other materials into the open reactor to prevent radiation leaks. The source noted that liquidators are housed in 10 cities and have received little information regarding the situation.