The Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv region has opened a criminal proceeding under the article “Destruction or damage to forest areas” in connection with the dry grass fire and forest in the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone.
“Criminal proceedings have been opened pursuant to Part 1 of Article 245 (Destruction or damage of forest areas) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine … Law enforcers are carrying out all necessary measures to establish the causes of the fire, find out all the circumstances of smoke and fire,” the press service of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv region said on June 6 morning.
The regional police chief department said that units of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergency Situations are working on the site now and police provide protection of public order and access regime.
As earlier reported, as of 7:00 a.m. on June 6 morning, the burning of dry grass continues with the subsequent spread to the forest area of about 5 hectares in the exclusion zone and the unconditional (mandatory) resettlement of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (Kyiv region). Some 35 units of equipment and 150 people are involved in the extinguishing, of which 22 units of equipment and 128 people from the State Emergency Situations Service. Twenty-nine operations to discharge water (130 tonnes) have been carried out by aircraft since the start.
