Ukrainian soldiers train in Chernobyl exclusion zone against possible Russian attack
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Apr 26
Ukrainian soldiers train in Chernobyl exclusion zone against possible Russian attack
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 26
Ukrainian troops recently conducted exercises in the irradiated ghost towns of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, 40 years after the 1986 nuclear disaster.
The soldiers practiced defensive tactics, including live grenade use, while avoiding the most radioactive areas, highlighting the zone's new role as a military security belt.
Chernobyl, evacuated after the 1986 meltdown and briefly occupied by Russian forces in 2022, remains uninhabitable and strategically important along Ukraine’s border with Belarus, a Russian ally.
As Russia builds up forces in Belarus, can Ukraine's Chernobyl defenses stop another northern invasion?
For Chernobyl's staff, how has the fear of soldiers and drones replaced the fear of radiation?
Since the attack on Chernobyl, what prevents other nuclear plants from becoming wartime targets?
How is war transforming Chernobyl's unique wildlife refuge, a symbol of nature's resilience?
Is Ukraine's shift to renewable energy the future of defending critical infrastructure from attack?
With Chernobyl's protective arch damaged, what happens if the crumbling reactor inside collapses?
Oxymoron-2023 Maneuvers: Strengthening Ukraine’s Northern Defense and Securing the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Overview
Since 2023, Ukraine's Oxymoron-2023 maneuvers, led by Lt. Gen. Serhiy Nayev, have strengthened defenses along the Belarusian border, focusing on protecting the strategically vital Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ). These exercises use diverse, internationally supplied equipment to prepare for large-scale attacks while enforcing strict radiation safety due to the CEZ's contamination from the 1986 disaster. The 2022 Russian occupation of the CEZ caused environmental damage and heightened nuclear risks, making the zone a geopolitical flashpoint. Despite no immediate threat of invasion from Belarus, ongoing Russian-Belarusian military cooperation and hybrid tactics require Ukraine's continued vigilance, supported by extensive international military aid and coordinated defense efforts.