Release of further radioactive contamination would be 'an uncontrollable monster'

Former Cork Person of the Year and voluntary CEO of the Cork-based charity, Chernobyl Children International (CCI), has called on global leaders to mark nuclear sites as ‘No War Zones’ following the recent drone attack at the Chernobyl Power Plant.

As the world marks the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, Adi Roche, who founded the CCI charity in 1991, has said that she fears the world faces another catastrophe due to the use of nuclear sites as targets in war.

Ms Roche has issued a call for immediate action to safeguard future generations, saying that the release of further radioactive contamination would be “an uncontrollable monster”.

“This war has changed everything,” said Ms Roche.

“The weaponising of nuclear power in Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia signifies to the world that the nature of modern warfare has changed forever.

“My worst nightmare in this conflict is that the tragedy of a second Chernobyl would be unleashed on the world.

“I fear that this area, a sacred area, an area of utter vulnerability and danger, a special area of human tragedy, could once again have deadly radioactive contamination released, which would spread everywhere,” she added.

“We must unite to call for global recognition of the environmental destruction caused by war and to urge immediate action.

“The war in Ukraine and this recent attack on Chernobyl has highlighted the dire need to formally recognise ‘Ecocide’ — the deliberate destruction of the environment — as a crime under the International Criminal Court.

“We urge the Irish Government to support Ukraine’s initiative in advocating for the recognition of ecocide as a war crime under the Hague Convention.

“We also call upon world leaders to take immediate action in designating Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhia, and all nuclear facilities as ‘No War Zones’.”

It comes as Russia launched more strike drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday than in any other single attack of the war.