Employees of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant who survived the historic accident and relatives of those who died paid tribute to the victims this Friday (26), the day that marks the 38th anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster in history.
The workers, who were involved in the operation after the accident, told Reuters that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in territory occupied by Russian forces in Ukraine, presents risks as serious as the Chernobyl disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long warned of the risks of an accident at Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, and has called for an end to fighting in the area. This plant is 500 km from the site of the Chernobyl disaster.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi says waging war over a nuclear plant has put security in “constant danger”.
Russian forces took control of the plant in early March 2022, weeks after they invaded Ukraine. Special Russian military units protect the facilities, and a unit of Russia's state nuclear company, Rosatom, manages the plant.
The Chernobyl accident spread radioactive elements across parts of northern Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, northern and central Europe.
Nearly 8.4 million people in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine have been exposed to radiation, according to the UN. Around 50 deaths are directly attributed to the disaster itself.
Source: CNN Brasil

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