Editing Chernobyl exclusion zone (section)

==== Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022–present) ====
{{Further|Capture of Chernobyl|Environmental impact of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|label1=Battle of Chernobyl}}

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was the site of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces during the [[Capture of Chernobyl|Battle of Chernobyl]] on 24 February 2022, as part of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name=DohertySaric>{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/ukraine-zelensky-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-2f549a11-6bc3-466c-bf30-23fafb41b3a3.html |title=Russian military forces seize Chernobyl nuclear plant |author=Erin Doherty, Ivana Saric |date=2022-02-24 |website=axios.com |publisher=Axios |access-date=2022-02-25 |quote=}}</ref> Russian forces reportedly captured the plant the same day.<ref name=MSN1>{{cite web |title=Chernobyl nuclear power plant under control of Russian troops, says Ukrainian President |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newslondon/chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-under-control-of-russian-troops-says-ukrainian-president/ar-AAUfZWm |website=MSN |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

Facilities at Chernobyl still require ongoing management, in part to ensure the continued cooling of spent nuclear fuel. An estimated 100 plant workers and 200 Ukrainian guards who were at the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]] when the Russians arrived had been unable to leave. Normally they would change shifts daily and would not live at the site. They had limited supplies of medication, food, and electricity.<ref name="Tobias">{{cite news |last1=Tobias |first1=Ben |title=Ukraine war: Chernobyl workers' 12-day ordeal under Russian guard |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60638949 |access-date=11 March 2022 |work=BBC News |date=7 March 2022}}</ref>

According to Ukrainian reports, the radiation levels in the exclusion zone increased after the invasion.<ref>{{cite web|date=2022-02-24|title=Scientists Track Radioactive Dangers after Russian Attack Chernobyl Plant in Ukraine|url=https://weatherboy.com/scientists-track-radioactive-dangers-after-russian-attack-chernobyl-plant-in-ukraine/|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Weatherboy|language=en-US}}</ref> The higher levels are believed to be a result of disturbance of radioactive dust by the military activity<ref name="Tobias"/> or possibly incorrect readings caused by cyberattacks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-nuclear-agency-reports-higher-chernobyl-radiation-levels-due-heavy-2022-02-25/ |title=Ukraine reports higher Chernobyl radiation after Russians capture plant |author=Pavel Polityuk and Forrest Crellin |date=2022-02-25 |website=.reuters.com |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2022-02-25 |quote=}}</ref>

On 10 March, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that it had lost all contact with Chernobyl.<ref>{{cite web|last=Child |first=David |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/10/ukraine-tells-iaea-it-lost-contact-chernobyl-plant-liveblog |title=Latest Ukraine updates: UN stresses 'urgent' need for talks {{pipe}} Russia-Ukraine War News |publisher=Al Jazeera |date= 11 March 2022|accessdate=2022-03-13}}</ref>

On 22 March, the Ukrainian state agency responsible for the Chernobyl exclusion zone reported that Russian forces had destroyed a new laboratory at the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant|Chernobyl nuclear power plant]]. The laboratory, which opened in 2015, worked to improve the management of radioactive waste, among other things. "The laboratory contained highly active samples and samples of radionuclides that are now in the hands of the enemy, which we hope will harm itself and not the civilized world", the agency said in its statement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=AP |date=2022-03-23 |title=Russians forces destroy laboratory in Chernobyl nuclear power plant |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/russians-forces-destroy-laboratory-in-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-122032300155_1.html |access-date=2022-03-23}}</ref>

On 27 March, [[Lyudmila Denisova]], then–[[Verkhovna Rada]] Commissioner for Human Rights, said that 31 known individual fires covering 10,000 hectares were burning in the zone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Пожежа біля ЧАЕС: у зоні відчуження через бойові дії горить понад 10 тис га лісу - Денісова |url=https://www.unian.ua/war/pozhezha-bilya-chaes-u-zoni-vidchuzhennya-cherez-boyovi-diji-gorit-ponad-10-tis-ga-lisu-denisova-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11761828.html |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=www.unian.ua |date=27 March 2022 |language=uk}}</ref> These fires caused "...an increased level of radioactive air pollution", according to Denisova. Firefighters were unable to reach the fires due to the Russian forces in the area. These wildfires are seasonal; one fire that was 11,500 hectares in size took place in [[2020 Chernobyl Exclusion Zone wildfires|2020]], and a series of several smaller fires occurred throughout the [[Chernobyl Exclusion Zone#Grass and forest fires|2010s]].

On 31 March, it was reported that most of the Russian troops occupying Chernobyl withdrew. An Exclusion Zone employee made a post on Facebook suggesting that Russian troops were suffering from [[acute radiation sickness]], based on a photo of military buses unloading near a radiation hospital in Belarus.<ref name=Metro1>[https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/31/chernobyl-withdrawn-russian-troops-suffering-radiation-poisoning-16377485/ Dozens of Russian troops 'fall ill with radiation poisoning' at Chernobyl]</ref><ref name=DailyBeast1>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-troops-suffer-acute-radiation-sickness-after-digging-chernobyl-trenches Russian Troops Suffer 'Acute Radiation Sickness' After Digging Chernobyl Trenches]</ref> Chernobyl operator [[Energoatom]] claimed that Russian troops had dug trenches in the most contaminated part of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, receiving "significant doses" of radiation.<ref name="Chernoby60945666B"/> ''[[BBC News]]'' reported unconfirmed reports that some were being treated in Belarus.<ref name="Chernoby60945666B">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60945666 Ukraine war: Russian troops leave Chernobyl, Ukraine says], [[BBC News]] (1 April 2022)</ref>

On 3 April, Ukrainian forces retook the Chernobyl power plant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rushton |first=Jimmy |title=Ukrainian forces in full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the district of Pripyat and the area of the State Border of Ukraine with the Republic of Belarus.🇺🇦 |url=https://twitter.com/jimmysecuk/status/1510550414365757440 |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>