Ukraine: Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Hit With Russian Bombs As Country’s Second Largest City Is Targeted

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has confirmed that a radioactive waste disposal site has been hit by Russian missiles.

Since crossing the border into Ukraine on Thursday, February 24, Russian troops have taken to fighting in the streets and not just the outskirts of the country.

The conflict has further escalated after Russian military entered Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.

A new wave of missiles was also launched this morning, February 27, on a waste disposal site in Kyiv.

In a post on Facebook, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate confirmed that the hit took place at the radioactive waste disposal site in Kyiv shortly after 1.00am local time, February 27, per Sky News.

It stated: 'As of 27 February 2022 at 01:20 Kyiv time, as a result of the mass bombing of Kyiv with all types of anti-aircraft and missile weapons available to the Russian Federation, the missiles hit the radioactive waste disposal site of the Kyiv branch of the State Specialised Enterprise Radon.

'Notification was announced by telephone by radon personnel, who are in the shelter. As a result of the mass shooting, which is still ongoing it is currently not possible to assess the extent of the destruction.

'The automated radiation monitoring system failed. But the surveillance cameras recorded the falling missiles.

'Assessment of the radiation situation will be carried out by portable devices after the shooting termination.'

It reassured Ukrainian citizens that 'according to the preliminary assessment of the SNRIU, there are no threat of radioactive protection for people outside the sanitary protection zone of the RWD Radon'.

However, head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Oleh Sinehubov, has warned that while Ukrainian forces fight back, citizens should not leave their homes, Metro reports.

According to The Kyiv Independent, Ukraine's State Emergency Service has also 'clarified that the shelling on a radioactive waste disposal site in Kyiv did not lead to depressurization of the storage of radioactive substances. The hit was on the fence and the building itself and the tanks remain intact.'

A gas pipeline and oil depot are also reported as having been subject to explosions, according to the country's president, Volodymr Zelensky's office and Kyiv's town mayor.

An explosion is also said to have taken place at Zhuliany airport, which is a civilian location.

It is not clear how many casualties and fatalities have so far amassed as a result of the invasion, however the UK's Ministry of Defence think that the number of Russian causalities is likely larger than those acknowledged by the Kremlin.

As of yesterday, February 26, there was a total of nearly 200 dead and 1,000 wounded according to reports.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.