Ukraine’s Interior Ministry comments on radiation risks from Chornobyl zone fire
Photo: Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Getty Images)
The head of the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management reported an ongoing fire in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Specialists are carrying out continuous monitoring of radiation levels. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has also assessed the situation, according to the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.
Fire in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
On May 7, 2026, a fire broke out on the territory of the Chornobyl Radioecological Biosphere Reserve and quickly spread due to weather conditions.
The fire affected significant areas of forest floor litter within the exclusion zone.
According to emergency services, the spread of the fire is being facilitated by dry weather and strong gusts of wind. In some areas, more than a thousand hectares have already been affected.
Radiation monitoring
The State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, scientific and technical centers for nuclear and radiation safety, as well as hydrometeorological services, have been involved in assessing the consequences.
Specialists are conducting modeling and comparing its results with real measurements at monitoring stations.
Separate monitoring is being carried out for the concentration of the radionuclide cesium-137 in the near-ground air layer close to the fire sites.
Measurements and indicators
As of May 8, isolated changes in cesium-137 concentrations are being recorded in the fire zone. These exceed control levels but remain significantly below the maximum permissible values.
At the same time, gamma radiation levels remain within long-term normal ranges for the area. Similar indicators across the territory of Ukraine also remain within permissible limits.
Situation under control
Based on calculations and modelling results, specialists do not expect any exceedance of permissible concentrations of radionuclides outside the exclusion zone. The radiation situation in the country remains stable.
Fire suppression efforts are ongoing, with emergency service units and radiation safety specialists involved.
Radiation situation: Official data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at 05:00 PM Kyiv time
According to the National Hydrometeorological Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, gamma radiation levels remain within normal limits across the entire country.
In the Chornobyl NPP exclusion zone, work continues to extinguish the large-scale fire.
On the morning of May 7, the spread of a large fire in a forest area of the Mukachevo district in the Zakarpattia region was successfully stopped. As of now, no open flames are being recorded in the area.
Additionally, the area of a large forest fire near the border of the Chernihiv region has significantly increased—almost doubled. According to available data, the direction of the fire spread has changed and shifted toward the Russian border.
