What is Chernobyl Exclusion Zone?

March 9, 2023

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a designated area around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster. It was established by the Soviet Armed Forces after the 1986 disaster and was initially a 30 km radius area. The zone’s borders have been expanded since then, covering a larger area of Ukraine, and it shares a border with the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve in Belarus. Over the years, the site has turned into a safe haven for wildlife, such as wolves, wild horses and bison.

Why is Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in News?

Scientists studying stray dogs living near the Chernobyl exclusion zone have found that radiation exposure may have altered their genetic makeup. The genetic composition of canine populations exposed to various levels of radiation was also found to differ from each other. These dogs are believed to have descended from pets abandoned after the nuclear disaster in 1986. Such studies into the effect of radiation on the genetic makeup of large mammals would help re-habitation planning.

Setup of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

The zone was split into three zones. They were the black zone, the red zone, and the blue zone. The black zone is the part where evacuees would not return. Red Zone is the part where the evacuees may return after the radiation levels are normalised. The blue zone is the part where the pregnant women can return. Later, in 1989, the safe living concept was adopted with the assistance received from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Chernobyl Exclusive Zone at Ukraine War

The zone was captured by the Russian forces during the Ukraine invasion in 2022. According to Ukraine, the radiation levels increased after the invasion. The International Energy Agency is currently unable to get access to the plant.

What is Chernobyl Nuclear reactor disaster?

It occurred in 1986. This nuclear reactor disaster is one of the two nuclear accidents that are rated at 7. The other one is the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan. The rating is provided by the International Nuclear Event Scale of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The highest level of the nuclear accident is rated 7 and the lowest is rated 0.

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