Russia confirms having seized the Chernobyl plant and says that radiation is at normal levels

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Ukrainian authorities point to a “significant” increase in gamma radiation levels

MADRID, Feb. 25 (Royals Blue) –

The Russian government has confirmed this Friday that it has taken control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as part of the offensive launched on Thursday in Ukraine and has highlighted that the level of radiation in the area is within normal parameters.

The spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, stressed that “the joint actions of Russian air landing troops and Ukrainians from the battalion guarding the nuclear power plant are guarantees that nationalist groups or other terrorist organizations will not be able to take advantage of the situation ( …) to carry out a nuclear provocation,” according to the Russian news agency Sputnik.

However, the Ukrainian authorities have pointed to a “significant” increase in radiation levels in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, although they have noted that for now it is not possible to determine the reasons for the changes due to the fighting in the zone.

“The data from the automatic monitoring system of the exclusion zone, available online, show that the levels of gamma radiation control have increased significantly,” said the State Inspector for Nuclear Regulation in his account on the social network Facebook .

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on Thursday for “maximum restraint” to avoid any damage to the country’s nuclear facilities, such as Chernobyl, whose plant has been taken over by the Russian Armed Forces as part of its offensive. .

The Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky, stressed during the clashes in the area that “it is a declaration of war against all of Europe” and said that the Ukrainian troops “are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 is not repeated.”

On the other hand, Konashenkov has stated that more than 150 Ukrainian soldiers have laid down their arms and have surrendered in the framework of military operations in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose independence was recently recognized by Moscow.

“During the fighting, more than 150 members of Ukraine’s various security forces laid down their arms and surrendered. Currently, they are required to sign an oath refusing to take part in hostilities. Soon they will be able to meet with their relatives”, has settled.