<p>New fires have broken out in the exclusion zone around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian authorities.</p>.<p>"Significant fires have started in the exclusion zone, which can have very serious consequences," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram late Sunday.</p>.<p>"However, today it is impossible to control and extinguish fires in full due to the capture of the exclusion zone by the Russian occupation forces."</p>.<p>The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday "the situation remained unchanged" in relation to safeguards at Chernobyl and other nuclear plants in Ukraine.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/looking-for-peace-without-delay-says-zelenskyy-on-upcoming-talks-1095327.html" target="_blank">'Looking for peace without delay,' says Zelenskyy on upcoming talks</a></strong></p>.<p>The UN nuclear watchdog last week said forest fires around Chernobyl did not pose a major radiological risk.</p>.<p>Since March 9 the IAEA has not received live data from Chernobyl. It said Sunday it was concerned about the lack of staff turnover at the plant since March 20.</p>.<p>Russian forces seized the plant on February 24, the first day of the invasion.</p>.<p>Chernobyl's number four reactor exploded on April 26, 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident which killed hundreds and spread radioactive contamination west across Europe.</p>.<p>The reactor number four building is now encased in a massive double sarcophagus to limit radioactive contamination.</p>.<p>The original sarcophagus, constructed by the Soviets, deteriorated over the years. A new one was built over it and was completed in 2019.</p>.<p>The plant's other three reactors were gradually shut down after the disaster, the last in 2000.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>New fires have broken out in the exclusion zone around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian authorities.</p>.<p>"Significant fires have started in the exclusion zone, which can have very serious consequences," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram late Sunday.</p>.<p>"However, today it is impossible to control and extinguish fires in full due to the capture of the exclusion zone by the Russian occupation forces."</p>.<p>The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday "the situation remained unchanged" in relation to safeguards at Chernobyl and other nuclear plants in Ukraine.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/looking-for-peace-without-delay-says-zelenskyy-on-upcoming-talks-1095327.html" target="_blank">'Looking for peace without delay,' says Zelenskyy on upcoming talks</a></strong></p>.<p>The UN nuclear watchdog last week said forest fires around Chernobyl did not pose a major radiological risk.</p>.<p>Since March 9 the IAEA has not received live data from Chernobyl. It said Sunday it was concerned about the lack of staff turnover at the plant since March 20.</p>.<p>Russian forces seized the plant on February 24, the first day of the invasion.</p>.<p>Chernobyl's number four reactor exploded on April 26, 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident which killed hundreds and spread radioactive contamination west across Europe.</p>.<p>The reactor number four building is now encased in a massive double sarcophagus to limit radioactive contamination.</p>.<p>The original sarcophagus, constructed by the Soviets, deteriorated over the years. A new one was built over it and was completed in 2019.</p>.<p>The plant's other three reactors were gradually shut down after the disaster, the last in 2000.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>