Russian soldiers flee Chernobyl after suffering “acute radiation sickness” [Video]

• Ukrainian agency Energoatom confirmed that Russian soldiers were forced to flee Chernobyl after suffering “acute radiation sickness.”
• The Russians were reportedly digging trenches in the Red Forest, which is considered the most contaminated area in the exclusion zone.
• The troops sought treatment in a special medical facility in Belarus.

Russian soldiers previously stationed in Chernobyl had to flee the area after suffering “acute radiation sickness.”

According to Ukrainian agency Energoatom, which is in charge of the country’s nuclear power stations, the troops had been digging up trenches in the area and panicked after experiencing the first signs of illness.

The agency said that the soldiers who occupied the power plant left for Belarus and “announced their intentions to leave the Chernobyl nuclear power plant this morning to the Ukrainian personnel of the station.” They added that there were still a few Russians who remained at the facility.

The soldiers were reportedly digging trenches in the Red Forest, “the most polluted in the entire exclusion zone.” After the worst nuclear disaster in history, thousands of pine trees in the area turned red due to contamination, hence the name. Even highly specialized Chernobyl workers are not allowed to enter the highly toxic area.

“Not surprisingly, the occupiers received significant doses of radiation and panicked at the first sign of illness. And it showed up very quickly,” the agency added. The soldiers are now being treated at a special medical facility in Gomel, Belarus.

On-site journalists reported spotting seven buses containing sick soldiers arriving in Gomel on Thursday. Others reported seeing buses transporting dead soldiers from Belarus to Russia under the cover of darkness.

U.S. intelligence reports also confirmed that Russian forces started withdrawing from the area.

Russia said that the withdrawal was part of their pledge to scale down military activity, but Ukrainian reports said that troops were forced to withdraw from the radiation.

Yaroslav Yemelianenko, who works with the Exclusion Zone Management, shared on Facebook, “Another batch of Russian irradiated terrorists who seized the Chernobyl zone was brought to the Belarusian Radiation Medicine Center in Gomel today.”

Russian forces seized control of the Chernobyl facility on Feb. 24, the first day of the invasion. Workers had to stay on duty for over 600 hours before being allowed a shift change.

The Russian presence in the area drew international concern when heavy military hardware kicked up radioactive dust, sparking apprehensions about environmental contamination and forest fires.

Anyone familiar with the site’s radiation couldn’t help but ridicule the troops for digging trenches in the most contaminated area — while not wearing protective equipment.

The incident is just the latest misstep by the Russian forces, who are struggling to advance and keep their footing in their increasingly failed war.

Source: Yahoo! News