--- title: "Russia Accused of Impeding Efforts to Fight Fires Near Seized Chernobyl Power Plant" description: "Several forest fires have erupted near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which was taken over by Russian troops late last month." date: "2022-03-22" modified: "2022-03-22" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/fires-chernobyl-power-plant" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "chernobyl" - "Russia" - "the digest" - "ukraine" --- # Russia Accused of Impeding Efforts to Fight Fires Near Seized Chernobyl Power Plant ![Several forest fires have erupted near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which was taken over by Russian troops late last month.]() *\Image: VOLODYMYR SHUVAYEV/AFP via Getty Images\* ## Tree Ukraine Several forest fires have erupted near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine, which was [taken over by Russian troops]() late last month, [*The Guardian* reports](). According to [a statement]() by Ukrainian government officials, those Russian forces are now impeding efforts to control the seven separate fires within the reactor's exclusion zone, which were spotted by European Space Agency satellites. While it's still unclear what exactly caused the fires, they were likely ignited by the "armed aggression of the Russian federation," according to the statement. Scientists have also found that climate change has also [led to much drier weather]() over the past decade, allowing fires like these to start more frequently, a lethal mix given the many ignition sources in the area right now. ## Spreading Radiation Making matters worse is the fact that we have no idea of the current radiation levels at the site. The potential for disaster is certainly there. A 2020 forest fire caused levels to spike to record levels, according to *The Guardian*. "Burning around Chernobyl is a concern because the burning may mobilize radioactive particles that were deposited decades ago when the reactors melted down," University of California wildfires expert LeRoy Westerling told the British newspaper. Previous [research has also shown]() that smoke can carry these radioactive particles to other areas. "Radiation levels in the exclusion zone and beyond, including not only Ukraine, but also other countries, could significantly worsen," Energoatom, Ukraine’s state-run nuclear company, [told *Reuters*]() in a statement. ## At Gunpoint The Chernobyl plant fell to invading Russian troops in late February. Until this week, Ukrainian scientists were forced to keep operations going at gunpoint, despite [power blackouts]() and appalling working conditions. Then on Monday, 64 technicians and support staff were finally allowed to go home, as [*The Wall Street Journal* reports](). "We came to work one 12 hour shift and instead we had to work 50 shifts in a row," one staffer told the newspaper. **READ MORE:** [Forest fires erupt around Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine]() \[*The Guardian*\] **More on the plant:** *[Chernobyl Meltdown Site Loses Power After Russian Invasion]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()