Inadvertent Radiation Exposures in Combat Zones: Risk of Contamination and Radiobiologic Consequences

On February 24, 2022, Russia began a military invasion of Ukraine. Missile and air strikes were reported throughout the country, shortly followed by a large ground invasion from multiple directions. Four major theaters developed: the Kyiv offensive, the Northeastern Ukraine offensive, the Eastern Ukraine offensive, and the Southern Ukraine offensive, with continued missile and air strikes far into Western Ukraine. Advancing Russian military units launched an attack and captured the Chernobyl nuclear station. Russian troops dug trenches into the area commonly known as the Red Forest, violating the established radiation safety measures and threatening security within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The placement of military units in such close proximity to the station also sparked concerns of possible damage occurring to the containment vessel constructed around the station's wrecked fourth reactor. There are 15 operating nuclear reactors in Ukraine. Each is vulnerable to an attack or sabotage that could precipitate a malfunction and possible release of radioactive isotopes. In this short commentary, we will discuss radiobiologic data obtained after the analysis of historical nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents and emphasize new challenges for nuclear security when NPPs are found and are possible targets within a conflict zone.

Automated summary

Russia initiated a military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, conducting missile and air strikes followed by a large ground invasion. They captured the Chernobyl nuclear station and violated radiation safety measures in the surrounding area. Concerns are raised about potential damage to the containment vessel of the wrecked reactor and the vulnerability of Ukraine's other nuclear reactors to attack or sabotage. This commentary discusses the radiobiologic data from past nuclear accidents and highlights the new challenges of nuclear security in conflict zones with nuclear power plants.