On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At around 5:00 p.m. UTC (8:00 p.m. Moscow time, UTC+3), Russian troops seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the abandoned city of Pripyat. This included taking control of the storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel (SNF-1 and SNF-2), the New Safe Confinement over the Shelter Structure, and three non-operational power units. At the time of the seizure, more than 300 people were on site, watching the takeover unfold on their monitors.

Russian forces looted two research laboratories in Chernobyl, which held radioactive sample solutions and calibration sources. “Occupiers stole or damaged 133 sources with a total activity of around 7 million Becquerels, comparable to 700 kilograms of radioactive waste containing beta and gamma radiation. Even a small portion of this level of activity is lethal if handled unprofessionally and without control,” stated the agency. Currently, the whereabouts of the stolen sources remain unknown. Two hypotheses and conclusions arise from this:

1. If the radioactive materials were abandoned in the exclusion zone or “discarded,” they pose a significant risk to personnel, underscoring the urgent need to resume radiation and dosimetric research and to retrieve these highly radioactive sources for safe storage.

2. If the sources and some fuel were taken as “souvenirs” (we consider this scenario more likely!), it would be fatal for the carriers. Within two weeks, carrying such a “souvenir” would result in radiation burns, radiation sickness, and irreversible health effects.

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
On February 24, Russian occupiers seized the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the afternoon. From then on, plant personnel worked nearly without rotation, held hostage by the occupiers. Although there were no active military operations within the Chernobyl Reserve, the Russians dug trenches and lived in them for several weeks, inhaling and absorbing radionuclides through their skin, constructing fortifications, and digging positions in strategic areas like intersections and bridges. They moved significant amounts of soil to establish positions for heavy equipment and infantry.

Russian forces raised radioactive dust into the air by digging trenches.
On March 31, Russian occupiers completely left the Chernobyl NPP area. Before departing, they looted the station and other buildings on the premises. They took everything from professional equipment to workers’ uniforms. Due to the occupiers’ actions, approximately 14,000 hectares of the reserve burned in a fire in mid-March, affecting both forested and open areas.

A Fire in the Chernobyl Zone
In May, another major fire broke out, which could not be efficiently extinguished because the area was heavily mined. On the first day, a rescue vehicle hit an anti-tank mine, damaging the equipment and injuring the crew. Numerous mines remain in the Chernobyl zone. With martial law in place and the threat of a new Russian offensive from Belarus, it is currently impossible to completely demine this area. The reserve has no plans to involve foreign partners in demining efforts.

From February 20 to 22, 2023, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors conducted a check at the Chernobyl NPP and reported no violations, according to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.
Signs of life have returned to the exclusion zone around Chernobyl NPP. Earlier this year, a herd of feral cattle, including bulls and calves, as well as Przewalski’s horses, the only surviving wild horse species, were observed there. Around 150 of these animals now live in the area.

The Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve
The Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve is the largest in Ukraine, covering an area of 2,200 square kilometers, nearly three times the size of Kyiv. The reserve is home to about 70 animal species listed in Ukraine’s Red Book, including the wolf, elk, and lynx. Reserve workers report that radiation levels have decreased 2-3 times compared to 1986. The absence of human activity has allowed animal populations to increase, while species associated with human presence, like rats and pigeons, have left the exclusion zone.

“Wild animals that lived here 100-200 years ago are returning, including a full set of predators and large mammals like wolves, lynxes, badgers, foxes, and ungulates,” says Denys Vyshnevskyi, head of the scientific department of the Chernobyl Biosphere Reserve.
The wolf population, in particular, has increased and is regulated by the amount of food available to these predators. Reserve staff explain that a balance has formed between herbivores and predators. If there are more wolf prey in one year, their numbers may decrease the following year.

Feral Cattle
There are even more exotic residents in the zone. The village of Lub’yanka, where around 1,000 people lived before the Chernobyl disaster, is now home to a herd of feral cattle. According to reserve staff, these cattle appeared about four years ago. Previously, a self-settler woman kept them, but after her death, the cows began living on their own. The herd is led by a bull, which helps protect them from wolves.

“During the day, they usually rest somewhere in the forest, and at night they try to stay in old barns, as it’s much safer there and the walls reduce the chances of wolf attacks,” explains Serhiy Zhila, senior research officer at the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve.

Researchers note that the cows easily adapted to the wild, as they are evolutionarily close to their wild ancestors. There’s no need to milk them anymore; their lactation cycles have adjusted to calf births.

Mutants
When asked about mutants, Serhiy Zhila smiles. He explains that despite people’s expectations and attempts to keep animals close to the damaged Chernobyl reactor, no mutants have emerged. Denys Vyshnevskyi adds that only a few animals exhibit any physical changes, and those with health issues generally do not survive.

What’s Next 
New animal species that were previously absent are now being discovered in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Future plans include restoring the populations of animals that lived in this area 400-500 years ago. The Chernobyl Reserve is currently in talks with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reintroduce bison to the territory.