A large-scale fire is ongoing in the Chernobyl zone. The most difficult situation is near the Pripyat River and in the Opachytskyi Nature Conservation Department.
This was reported in the reserve.
The fire has now spread to the territories of the Opachytsky, Teremtsivsky and Parishivsky nature conservation departments, as well as the Korohodsky forestry. According to experts, the most difficult situation is observed in certain quarters of the Opachytsky department and on the left bank of the Pripyat River.
The reserve notes that due to strong gusts of wind, the fire spread from the Teremtsivskyi to the Parishivskyi nature conservation department.
Fire in the Chernobyl Reserve, May 9, 2026. Chernobyl Reserve/Telegram
The main forces and equipment are now focused on extinguishing the open fire in the Opachytsky and Teremtsivsky departments. A minor fire is also recorded in the Korohodsky forestry.
In some areas, firefighting is temporarily suspended due to mine danger. In total, 367 rescuers and 84 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire.
The radiation background in the fire area remains within normal limits – from 0.19 to 0.35 μSv/h.
What is known about the fire in the Chernobyl Reserve?
A large-scale fire in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone has been raging since May 8. According to the State Emergency Service, the fire engulfed forests and dry vegetation in the reserve, and the area of the fire initially exceeded 1,100 hectares, and later increased to about 1,180 hectares.
Burning was recorded in several forest blocks of the exclusion zone. The situation was complicated by strong winds, dry weather, and mine danger, which temporarily prevented rescuers from working in some areas.
According to the Chernobyl Reserve, one of the fires occurred after two UAVs crashed in the exclusion zone.
The State Emergency Service emphasized that the radiation background in the area of the fire and in the Kyiv region remains within normal limits. Service spokesman Oleksandr Khorunzhy also denied information about an alleged “radioactive cloud” moving towards Kyiv.