The largest nuclear accident response drills at a nuclear power plant will be held in the Urals
Large-scale emergency response drills have begun in Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region, during which response procedures in the event of a nuclear disaster at a nuclear power plant will be practiced. More than 1,000 people are participating in the drills, which will take place on October 6–7.
The drill scenario involves a natural disaster and the simultaneous failure of safety systems.
According to the drill scenario, an emergency arises simultaneously at several power units of the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant. The plant supplies about 16% of the Sverdlovsk Region’s electricity.
The Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant operates power units with BN-600 and BN-800 fast-neutron reactors. They were commissioned in 1980 and 2015, respectively.
On October 7, firefighting and military special-purpose vehicles, as well as emergency responders in protective gear, will appear on the streets of Zarichne.
Participants in the exercises will carry out a full range of activities: clearing debris, extinguishing fires, and setting up decontamination and sanitation stations.
The emergency scenario will be simulated using simulators for power units No. 3 and No. 4 of the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant.
Residents of Zarichne have been urged to remain calm during the exercises.
Staff from the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant, specialists from Rosenergoatom and Rosatom, rescue workers, police officers, and medical personnel have been involved in the large-scale exercises.
Also participating in the exercise are service members of the radiological, chemical, and biological defense forces, as well as representatives of local authorities.
Representatives from Belarus and Kazakhstan will observe the exercises.
Thus, in the Sverdlovsk region, a large-scale scenario is being rehearsed to respond to an accident involving multiple power units at a nuclear power plant, including the cleanup of potential radioactive contamination.
Earlier, annual mobilization readiness exercises began in Belarus under the leadership of heads of regional executive committees; these exercises will continue until October 2. The exercises are designed to improve coordination between local authorities and personnel from various organizations during the formation of territorial defense forces and national militia units.
During the “Center-2026” military exercises in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Oblast, participants may have rehearsed a scenario involving an invasion of a Central Asian country and the establishment of a buffer zone on its territory.
