May 5, 2023 02:18 AM
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science...ve-forest/
EXCERPTS: . . . somehow, the still-very-real health risks inherent to lingering around certain parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone just didn’t sink in with Russian soldiers and their commanding officers based in Belarus, who invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Radiation sunk in, though—particularly after Russian troops dug into the zone’s heavily irradiated Red Forest. And today, some soldiers are still falling sick, according to diplomatic sources cited by the UK journal The Independent.
The identity of the source is unclear, but these are not the first such claims of radiation sickness amongst Russian troops in that area. The U.K.’s Telegraph alleged in April 2022 that a Russian soldier died from radiation exposure at Chernobyl. During Russia’s occupation, Ukrainian sources claimed Russian soldiers were pulled from garrison duty for treatment at radiation research center in Gomel, Belarus—a claim later supported by doctors in Belarus affiliated with the opposition.
[...] As Russia’s Kyiv campaign became bogged down in failure, Russian forces finally pulled out of Chernobyl ... Nine plant staff [NSC] were killed and five more were kidnapped. Buildings were burnt down, left riddled with bullets and graffiti, or laced with concealed landmines and trip-wire booby traps. Lost equipment included nearly 700 computers, 350 vehicles and 1,500 dosimeters, totaling $135 million...
[...] It’s shocking that Russia’s military disregarded the well-known radiation hazards persisting around Chernobyl. Like any major military power, Russia has long maintained a corps of specialized CBRN or NBC troops trained to help mitigate radiation hazards, as well as products of other types of WMDs. During the Cold War, armies expected their troops to keep on fighting on battlefields irradiated by tactical nuclear weapons, and equipped and trained their forces accordingly.
Yet Russian commanders deployed their regular soldiers into heavily irradiated areas near Chernobyl, either without regard for their safety, or out of ignorance of the risks... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: . . . somehow, the still-very-real health risks inherent to lingering around certain parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone just didn’t sink in with Russian soldiers and their commanding officers based in Belarus, who invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Radiation sunk in, though—particularly after Russian troops dug into the zone’s heavily irradiated Red Forest. And today, some soldiers are still falling sick, according to diplomatic sources cited by the UK journal The Independent.
The identity of the source is unclear, but these are not the first such claims of radiation sickness amongst Russian troops in that area. The U.K.’s Telegraph alleged in April 2022 that a Russian soldier died from radiation exposure at Chernobyl. During Russia’s occupation, Ukrainian sources claimed Russian soldiers were pulled from garrison duty for treatment at radiation research center in Gomel, Belarus—a claim later supported by doctors in Belarus affiliated with the opposition.
[...] As Russia’s Kyiv campaign became bogged down in failure, Russian forces finally pulled out of Chernobyl ... Nine plant staff [NSC] were killed and five more were kidnapped. Buildings were burnt down, left riddled with bullets and graffiti, or laced with concealed landmines and trip-wire booby traps. Lost equipment included nearly 700 computers, 350 vehicles and 1,500 dosimeters, totaling $135 million...
[...] It’s shocking that Russia’s military disregarded the well-known radiation hazards persisting around Chernobyl. Like any major military power, Russia has long maintained a corps of specialized CBRN or NBC troops trained to help mitigate radiation hazards, as well as products of other types of WMDs. During the Cold War, armies expected their troops to keep on fighting on battlefields irradiated by tactical nuclear weapons, and equipped and trained their forces accordingly.
Yet Russian commanders deployed their regular soldiers into heavily irradiated areas near Chernobyl, either without regard for their safety, or out of ignorance of the risks... (MORE - missing details)