The Russian military occupation of the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) led to the destruction or looting of specialised firefighting and forestry equipment.

As forest, turf and peatland fires in the zone are a constant and significant concern due to radioactive contamination of the territory, it is important to re-establish the CEZ administration’s capacity to prevent, detect and fight forest fires across the 30-kilometer zone.

At the International Chernobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA) Assembly meeting donors approved fresh funding to urgently procure necessary fire safety equipment.