Current Events

A few weeks ago, Russian forces in Ukraine took control of Europe’s largest nuclear plant, Zaporizhzhia, after their shelling set part of the complex on fire.

This sparked fears across the continent of a potential nuclear disaster
Although Ukrainian officials had reported that “background radiation levels were normal” and the fire had not affected “essential” equipment, the ongoing military operation around the site meant the situation was “very fragile”
The nuclear plant is now under Russian control, and the station management continues to work at invader’s gunpoint

In addition to this, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has negatively impacted vital research happening in the Arctic.

Right when Russia decided to wage war with Ukraine, a global group of permafrost scientists in the Arctic were getting ready to embark on a multi-year monitoring effort that would aid in providing crucial information and data on how the region is warming
International uproar and financial sanctions over the unprovoked invasion put an immediate stop to scientific collaboration with Russian researchers
Climate scientists agree that the sanctions are necessary…
However, the lost opportunity for vital research in the area is lamented, as Russia accounts for nearly one-half of the Arctic