Ukrainian officials have dismissed claims made by The Independent that much of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is now considered "suitable for agriculture." The Ministry of Environment and the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (SAUEZM) stated that the study referenced in the report pertains to the Zhytomyr region, not the exclusion zone itself. They emphasized that agricultural activities in radiation-contaminated zones are prohibited without special permission and highlighted ongoing dosimetric certification efforts in the area. The Chornobyl disaster in 1986 led to significant land being designated unusable for agriculture due to radioactive contamination, and changes to this legal status would require official procedures.
Wed, 07 May 2025 14:21:11 GMT | RBC-Ukraine