Klivazh is the site of an underground peaceful nuclear explosion in the Soviet program of Nuclear Explosions for the National Economy. The event took place in the Donetsk oblast of the Ukrainian SSR on September 16, 1979. The site flooded with underground waters in 2018 after Russian military occupation during Russo-Ukrainian War, with a risk of radiological pollution of drinking water in the area.[2]
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| Date | Explosion: 16 Sep 1979,[1] Flooding: April 2018 |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 GMT |
| Location | Yunkom (Yuny Kommunar) mine, Bunhe, Yenakiieve urban hromada, Horlivka Raion, Donetsk oblast, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 48°12′48″N 38°16′54″E / 48.21336°N 38.28162°E |
| Type | Peaceful Nuclear Explosion |
| Outcome | The site flooded with underground waters after Russian military occupation in Russo-Ukrainian War |
Details of the PNE
editThe 0.2–0.3 kt (kiloton of TNT) explosion was performed in Ukrainian SSR in an eastern annex of «Yunkom» coal mine, near the town of Bunhe, city of Yenakiieve, at a depth of 903 m (2,963 ft) in between the coal layers «Deviatka» (l4) and «Tsehelny» (l21) on September 16, 1979, at 9:00 AM (GMT).[1][3] The aim of the explosion was to lower interlayer tension and underground gas pressure, allowing more secure coal mining.[4][5] Before 1979, on the «Yunkom» coal mine, there were frequent rapid coal and gas outbursts and sudden squeezing-out of coal by accompanying gas evolution, as the excavating layers were situated in the tectonic tension areas. The event details were classified in the time of the USSR.
Outcomes of the explosion
editFollowing the nuclear explosion a cavity formed with a radius of 5–6 m, around it there formed a crush zone with a 20–25 m radius. The radioactivity level in the mine excavation areas and sub-surface waters remained at the natural level when the measurements were regularly conducted during 1979–2000. After the PNE the coal and gas outbursts became less frequent.[4] In 2002, the «Yunkom» mine was closed.[6]
Flooding of the site
editThe danger of flooding the «Yunkom» mine was alarming for Ukrainian ecologists at the very announcement of the mine conservation as it may potentially cause radioactive pollution of the underground waters. The Ministry of Ecological Security held measures to ensure the hydrological and geological security of the site.[7]
After the starting of Russo-Ukrainian War in 2014 the city of Yenakieve was occupied by pro-Russian forces of so-called Donetsk People's Republic.[8]
In 2018 the DPR administration decided to flood the «Yunkom» mine. The drainage required maintenance of water pumps, which stopped along with the region's general infrastructure degradation after the Russian military occupation.[4][5] The information was confirmed by OSCE Monitoring Mission.[9] In April 2018 the DPR removed water pumps from the «Yunkom» mine, so it is gradually flooded by the natural waters. The radiological contamination was viewed as potentially spreading to the Mius River and then to the Azov Sea, threatening drinking and irrigation water supplies.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Database of nuclear tests, USSR: part 3, 1979-1990". Johnston's Archive. 2005-06-15. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Millard, Rachel (2022-02-24). "Second Chernobyl: Eastern Ukraine threatened with radioactive disaster". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Испытания ЯО в мирных целях, Аналитический Центр по Проблемам Нераспространения". npc.sarov.ru. 2002-09-02. Archived from the original on 2002-09-02. Retrieved 2023-09-18. РФЯЦ-ВНИИЭФ. 1996 ISBN 5-85169-062-01
- ^ a b c ""ДНР" збирається затопити шахту, де СРСР провів ядерний вибух". Главком (in Ukrainian). 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ a b "Держдеп США стурбований інформаціією про наміри бойовиків затопити "ядерну" шахту на Донбасі". Український тиждень (in Ukrainian). 2018-04-14. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "An environmental disaster looms in war-torn Ukraine". NBC News. 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ Про заходи щодо розв'язання еколого-гідрогеологічних проблем, які виникають унаслідок закриття гірничо-видобувних підприємств, шахт і розрізів. За матеріалами доповіді Міністра екобезпеки Василя Шевчука на засіданні Кабінету міністрів України 11 січня 1999 року
- ^ "Fears of radioactive disaster as Russian proxies plan to flood nuclear test site in Donbas". Euromaidan Press. 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 April 2018". OSCE. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Тема дня. Из-за шахты Юнком Азовское море может стать мертвым". LIGA (in Russian). 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2023-09-18.