The Ukrainian armed forces are conducting drills inside the restricted zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This activity has been reported by France24 and other outlets, highlighting its growing role in regional training scenarios.
Observers note that the site has emerged as a key training area for Ukrainian troops in recent months, taking advantage of the quiet, controlled environment to rehearse mobility, concealment, and coordinated procedures under challenging terrain and limited visibility.
According to reports, a Ukrainian military vehicle carrying anti-aircraft systems, camouflaged with nets, traveled through a landscape of bare trees within the exclusion zone, roughly 15 kilometers from Ukraine’s border with Belarus, a country often cited as an arena of strategic tension.
During the drills, a unit is described as executing a simulated assault toward the forest line, while journalists on site note that many participants are not career soldiers, suggesting a mix of reservists and conscripts alongside regulars.
France24 notes that the exercises aim to bolster readiness for repelling potential incursions from the north and to disrupt any attempted airborne landings, underscoring the strategic value assigned to the area in regional defense planning. [Citation: France24]
In a separate development, Ukraine reportedly requested France for support related to the Chernobyl site, including funding to inspect the facility’s bunker infrastructure, highlighting ongoing concerns about containment and safety in the region. [Citation: France24]
Meanwhile, the broader security context shows ongoing Russian military activity in multiple Ukrainian regions. On February 24, 2022, the Russian leadership described broader objectives that included changes to the region’s military balance, with statements emphasizing demilitarization and regime change as central aims. Analysts continue to monitor how these actions influence Ukrainian defense postures and international responses. [Citation: Russia state sources]