The Chernobyl nuclear reactor was taken over by Russian troops late last month, and several forest fires have erupted near it.
According to a statement by Ukrainian government officials, the Russian forces are obstructing efforts to control the seven fires within the reactor's exclusion zone.
The fires were likely started by the Russian aggression, according to the statement.
Climate change has led to a lot of dry weather over the past decade, allowing fires like these to start more frequently, a lethal mix given the many ignition sources in the area right now.
We don't know the current radiation levels at the site.
There is a chance for disaster. A forest fire in 2020 caused levels to go up.
Burning around Chernobyl is a concern because the burning may mobilize radioactive particles that were deposited decades ago when the reactor melted down, according to a University of California wildfire expert.
Smoke can carry radioactive particles to other areas.
The state-run nuclear company of Ukraine said in a statement that radiation levels in the exclusion zone and beyond could get worse.
Russian troops invaded the Chernobyl plant in February. Ukrainian scientists were forced to work at gunpoint until this week, despite the terrible working conditions.
64 technicians and support staff were allowed to go home on Monday, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
One staffer told the newspaper that they had to work 50 shifts in a row because they came to work one 12 hour shift.
There are forest fires around the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
The Chernobyl meltdown site lost power after the Russian invasion.
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