Chernobyl: October 2007 Archives
Today is Blog Action Day, and this year's topic is the environment. In keeping with this theme, I want to discuss the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and it's current status.
It has been over 21 years since the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine. After the accident, an area within 30 kilometers of the plant was designated as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The area is still contaminated and considered unfit for human habitation.
Nestor Shufrych, Ukrainian Minister of Emergency Measures, has dismissed Igor Gramotkin as General Director of the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station. Temporarily replacing Gramotkin is technical director/chief engineer Andrey Bilyk.
The basic reason for the dismissal is breach of contract. Apparently, some journalists were able to get somewhat close to the Sarcophagus at Reactor 4 with a model of a bomb. Even though it was not real, the journalists were able to get it past several Exclusion Zone checkpoints and guards at the Chernobyl Plant.
It looks like a scandal is brewing, as President Viktor Yushchenko has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Gramotkin's dismissal.
Obviously details are still sketchy, but this is all the information I have right now. I'll provide updates to this situation as soon as news becomes available.
