SaveDnipro & Greenpeace
Radiation detection project against Russian nuclear sabotage in Ukraine
SaveDnipro and Greenpeace Germany and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have established a new project to expand the existing network of radiation sensors in Ukraine. Since the beginning of November, an international team from Greenpeace together with SaveDnipro has visited locations across south and central Ukraine to install new sensors. Meeting with local officials, emergency services and citizens, the team has installed sensors on public buildings in Zaporizhzhia City, Yuzhnoukrainsk, Odesa, Tarutyne, Yuzhne, and Uman.
Due to Russian military actions there is the possibility that one or more of Ukraine’s nuclear plant’s will be damaged resulting in the release of radioactivity into the environment. Following the Russian destruction of the Kakhovka dam by Russian forces, it is clear that a deliberate act of sabotage at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by Russian armed forces together with Rosatom (the Russian state nuclear corporation) is very possible. The range of scenarios includes limited local radiation effects to severe radioactive contamination.
The radiation sensors are there to monitor and provide early warnings in the event of radioactive releases from Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Due to the Russian war on Ukraine, and specifically the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by Russian armed forces and Rosatom (the State Nuclear Corporation) the safety and security of the nuclear plant has been severely compromised. Russian armed forces are also targeting Ukraine’s other nuclear plants, including the South Ukraine nuclear plant in the Mykolaiv region.
The sensors measure gamma radiation, which currently remains at expected normal levels. There are small differences between the sensors at different locations, linked to the differences in natural background radiation. A release of radioactivity can be either limited and have only a local impact, or it can be of a massive scale with an impact beyond the Ukrainian borders in neighboring countries. The way the radioactive cloud would spread will depend on the type of accident and weather, especially the wind direction and precipitation. As for previous major accidents such as at Chornobyl and Fukushima, the contamination pattern can be very irregular.
Additional sensors will be installed in the coming weeks in Ukraine at different locations in order to further improve the existing sensor network.
Last updated November 17, 2023.
Partners are being sought to host radiation monitoring devices in specific areas. If you are interested, please answer a few questions in the following form.
Why Is Verification Necessary?
SaveEcoBot is an independent public system that reports on the background radiation level in Ukraine. The information is collected automatically from various sources, including government monitoring systems, public sensors, commercial devices, and others. All data is published on the map without verification. However, these data require additional verification from government authorities for decision-making purposes. Therefore, if the readings on any station on our map increase, they cannot be the sole source of information about radiation levels.
It is important to remember that only government authorities have the right to declare emergencies or other extraordinary situations. Official sources such as the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate, the State Emergency Service, and national, and local authorities should communicate all further civil protection measures.
If you notice any unusual changes in the readings, please inform us.
Take care of yourself and stay level-headed!
Data Sources
SaveDnipro, DNEPR.com, luftdaten.info, Eco City, AirBG.Info, KP "CEM" DOR, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of Donetsk Regional State Administration, AirVisual, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kyiv Regional State Administration, AirPol, Burshtyn Environmental Channel, Kyiv Smart City, Guru.ua, dnepro.net, Odessa State Environmental University, Georgian National Environmental Agency, , LUN Misto, Sensor.Community, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, AirMQ, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, EUropean Radiological Data Exchange Platform, State Specialized Enterprise "Ecocenter", SE "Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant", SE "South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant", SE "Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant", SE "Rivne Nuclear Power Plant", Main Center of Special Monitoring, Belgidromet, Kyiv City State Administration, Brovary City Council, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of Odessa Regional State Administration, Lviv City Council, Kremenchuk City Council, Airly, PurpleAir, DTEK, SSE "Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant", uRADMonitor, Metinvest, Ministry of Health of Ukraine, State enterprise "Belarusian NPP", State Emergency Service of Ukraine, ECOTEST, JSC "Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant", State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, SSP "Radon Association", SSUFSCP, Safecast, Ecozagroza, Lutsk City Council, Vyshneve City Council, Vinnytsia City Council, Dikanka Village Territorial Community, Dubno City Council, Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council, Khmelnytskyi City Council, Palanska Village Community, Gelmyazivska Village Community, Vatutine City Community, Katerynopil Village Community, Steblivska Village Community, Pokrovsk City Military Administration, Pokrovsk Village Council, Erkivska Village Council, Palchykivska Village Council, Lysychobalkivska Village Council, VozMeteo, JS «NNEGC «Energoatom», Cherkasy Regional Oncology Dispensary, Pokrov City Council, Monastyryshche City Council, Ivan'ky Village Council, Khrystynivka City Council, Velyka Sevastyanivka Lyceum, Verkhnyatskyi Lyceum (Lishchyniv), Uman Humanitarian and Pedagogical College, Kuz'myna Hreblya Lyceum, Yaroshivka Village Council, Ladyzhynka Village Council, Mykhailivka Village Council, Zhabotyn Village Council, Raihorod Village Council, Budyschenska Village Council, Svydivok Village Council, Voznesenske Village Council, Balakliya Village Council, Chervona Sloboda Village Council, Drabiv Village Council, Selyshche Village Council, Man'kivka Village Council, SaveDnipro & Greenpeace, SaveDnipro & uRADMonitor, SaveDnipro & Safecast, SaveDnipro & SÚRO, Kyiv Digital, Shramkivka Village Council, Roshydromet, Rosatom, Smila City Council, Yuzhnoukrainsk City Council, Buky Village Council, State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv region, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of Lviv Regional Military (State) Administration, , State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Cherkasy region, Bashtechky Village Council.
Ukrainian hydrometeorological center, Ecozagroza (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine), FIRMS NASA, NOAA, Institute for the Study of War, Liveuamap, OpenStreetMap, portal Decentralization (Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine), OpenWeather.
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