Radiation Sources Lost Due to Full-Scale russian Invasion of Ukraine

In 2022, radiation sources were used in Ukraine by 4,620 entities in the field of nuclear energy use, 2,886 entities of them whose activities are not exempted from licensing use radiation sources, including 2087 healthcare institutions of different forms of ownership. As of the end of 2022, 26,558 radiation sources were registered in the State Register of Radiation Sources and Doses, of which: 8,420 are sealed radionuclide sources; 18,138 are non-radionuclide installations generating radiation (generators).

Radiation hazard related to radiation sources has increased with the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For 36 days from February to March 2022, russian occupiers stayed in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. They entered the storage facility for radiation sources, where samples of radioactive solutions and calibration sources were stored, stole and damaged 133 sources with a total activity of 7 million becquerels. In addition, the laboratory of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants was looted and destroyed. Radiation sources and samples of fuel-containing materials from the Shelter object, which scientists used for research, were stored there.

The joint “Survey” Project of the SNRIU and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) was aimed at radiation survey of the territories in the Kyiv region affected by hostilities and temporary occupation by russian troops in the period from 24 February during two years. As part of the Project and at the request of local residents, the crew of the SSTC NRS radiation reconnaissance vehicle RanidSONNI conducted a radiation survey of private estates, apartments and houses, as well as public institutions, including schools, state medical institutions, administrative buildings and parts of intercity roads in the Kyiv region.

On 2 December 2022, SSTC NRS experts of the RanidSONNI crew conducted a radiation survey in the village of Myrcha. During the survey of the communal institution “Myrcha General Secondary Education Establishment of the I-II level – Preschool Education Institution,” exceeded EDR was revealed in one of the utility premises of the institution. DP-63A dosimeter (1965) containing radium-226 was revealed as a result of a detailed survey. The exposure dose rate of gamma radiation at the surface of the item was 14.0 μSv/h. The item was packed in a plastic bag, sealed and transported to Radioactive Waste Disposal Site at the Central Production Site of the Radon Association.

There is also information on the loss of radiation sources as a result of military operations. In 2022, the State Register of Radiation Sources and Doses received information from the Odesa and Kirovohrad regions on the loss of seven items of BIS-4AN sealed sources with 90Sr/90Y radionuclide with the activity of 9.3×108 Bq as part of RIO-3A glaciation alarms.

The SNRIU received messages from two entities at the de-occupied territories in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions (the National Scientific Center “Institute of Metrology” and Sumy Customs of the State Customs Service) regarding the probable loss of regulatory control over radionuclide radiation sources, including categories 1-3. Due to the minimum distance to the border with the russian federation, the threat of artillery and rocket attacks, mining of the territory and limited access, staying in these territories is dangerous for personnel and, accordingly, physical inventory of radiation sources, assessing the damage caused and quantitative losses of radiation sources is impossible and will be carried out with creation of safe conditions. These and other issues are under SNRIU control.

Table 12 Radiation incidents with radiation sources in 2022

According to the SNRIU Report on the state of nuclear and radiation safety in Ukraine in 2022 of the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine