News
Publish date: June 23, 1997
Written by: Igor Kudrik
News
On June 17, at 10:50 Moscow time, malfunctioning research equipment led to strong emissions of neutron rays at a laboratory in Arzamas-16 (Sarov), Nizhny Novgorod county. The researcher who was in the room at the time of the accident, received some 200 Rem and was brought to Hospital no. 6 in Moscow.
Contradictory to Minatom statements to the effect that there is a cure available for people exposed to such high doses of radiation, the researcher died on June 20. He was unconscious a the time of death.
Currently, a committee established by Minatom is trying to unravel the reasons to and consequences of the accident in Arzamas-16, where an "incomplete" chain reaction occurred; probably as a result of malfunctioning research equipment. The commission is having difficulties when trying to penetrate to the room where the accident happened, reports RIA News.
According to Minatom officials, there were no discharge of radiation to the environment.
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.