Chernobyl disaster survivors warn of ’horrific’ risks at Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Chornobyl nuclear power plant workers who survived, as well as relatives of those who died, honoured fallen workers as Ukraine marked the 38th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Friday (April 26). Workers, who were involved in the operation following the accident, told Reuters Zaporizhzhia NPP occupied by the Russian forces presents risks no less than Chornobyl nuclear disaster. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long warned of the risks of a disaster at Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, and urged an end to fighting in the area. Russian forces took control of the plant in early March 2022, weeks after invading Ukraine. Special Russian military units guard the facility and a unit of Russia’s state nuclear company, Rosatom, runs the plant. The Chornobyl accident spread radioactive elements across parts of northern Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, northern and central Europe. Read more: