Russia Withdraws from Chernobyl Nuclear Plant... "Garrison Troops Exposed to Radiation"

Exposed to Radiation While Building Trenches Without Protective Gear
Russia Intensifies Airstrikes Across Ukraine Including Kyiv

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian military, which had occupied and stationed at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, has reportedly handed over the operation rights of the Chernobyl plant back to Ukraine and withdrawn its troops. It is interpreted that the withdrawal was to prevent further damage as a significant number of stationed soldiers suffered from acute radiation syndrome due to radiation exposure.

According to the AP News on the 31st (local time), Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power company Energoatom stated in a press release, "The Russian military handed over the operation rights of the Chernobyl plant and then withdrew," adding, "They also withdrew from the nearby village of Slavutych." It further raised the issue of radiation exposure among Russian troops, saying, "The Russian soldiers suffered massive radiation exposure, leading to an increase in acute radiation syndrome patients, prompting the withdrawal."

According to The New York Times (NYT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that high-level radiation exposure among Russian soldiers has not yet been reported, while the Russian side has not yet responded to the allegations regarding their soldiers' radiation exposure.

The Russian troops stationed at the Chernobyl plant are presumed to have mostly withdrawn to Belarus. According to the Ukrainian local media UNIAN, seven buses carrying Russian soldiers exposed to radiation arrived at hospitals in Belarus on the same day. Citing a source from the Chernobyl exclusion zone, UNIAN reported, "The Russian military dug trenches in the 'Red Forest' near the nuclear power plant."

The Red Forest is an area where pine trees exposed to radiation after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster turned red and died. The radiation level on the surface of this area is over 5,000 times the global average. The Russian military is believed to have forced military operations such as trench construction here without proper protective equipment, resulting in significant radiation exposure among soldiers.

Despite the spread of radiation exposure reports, the Russian military continued its offensive across Ukraine. They did not implement any reduction in military activities promised during the 5th peace talks on the 29th and intensified attacks in Kyiv and Chernihiv.

CNN, citing a senior U.S. Department of Defense official, pointed out, "Russia launched over 300 combat aircraft sorties in the past 24 hours," adding, "The Russian military is concentrating attacks on four locations: Kyiv, Chernihiv, southern Izium, and Donbas."