Capture of Chernobyl

Overview

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was captured on 24 February, the first day of the invasion, by the Russian Armed Forces, who entered Ukrainian territory from neighbouring Belarus and seized the entire area of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant by the end of that day. On 7 March, it was reported that around 300 people were trapped and had been unable to leave the power plant since its capture. On 31 March, it was reported that most of the Russian troops occupying the area had withdrawn, as the Russian military abandoned the Kyiv offensive to focus on operations in Eastern Ukraine.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The capture of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone on the first day of the full-scale invasion marked the opening move of Russia's thrust from Belarus toward Kyiv. By seizing the entire Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant area within hours, Russian forces secured a sensitive nuclear site and established a forward position along the direct Kyiv axis. The occupation created an immediate humanitarian and safety concern: by 7 March, approximately 300 people were reported trapped at the plant and unable to leave. The Russian hold on the zone proved temporary. On 31 March, most occupying troops withdrew as the Russian military abandoned the Kyiv offensive and reoriented toward operations in eastern Ukraine. The capture and subsequent abandonment of Chernobyl thus reflected the broader arc of the failed Kyiv campaign — a rapid initial advance that could not be sustained and was ultimately reversed within weeks.

Tactics

Forces & casualties