Ukraine braces for possible new Russian assault on Chornobyl
Ukrainian forces are preparing for a potential renewed Russian military attack on the Chornobyl nuclear power plant area, German outlet "Der Spiegel" reports.
Ukrainian military personnel are taking preparatory steps in case Russian forces attempt to seize the Chornobyl nuclear power plant site once again, according to a report by the German magazine "Der Spiegel".
The Chornobyl plant is the site of one of history's worst nuclear disasters in 1986, and the area has remained under heightened scrutiny throughout the war due to both security and nuclear-safety concerns. Russian troops briefly held control of the site early in the invasion, given its location near the Belarusian border and to the north of Kyiv.
According to "Der Spiegel", Ukrainian officials view the possibility of another assault as a genuine threat and are preparing accordingly. Specific details about the preparations or the reasons behind the renewed concern have not been made public.
The safety of the Chornobyl site during wartime has repeatedly drawn international concern, since any military activity in the zone raises additional risks of radioactive contamination spreading. The development is seen as part of the broader, ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has lasted for several years.
