PRIPYAT, Ukraine — Officials in Ukraine have confirmed that radiation rates at Chernobyl have exceeded “control levels” at a large number of observation points.
Russian forces captured the power plant on Thursday.
Monitoring stations reported radiation levels about 20-fold on Thursday.
Ukrainian officials said the rise in radiation was caused by military vehicles stirring up contaminated soil in the zone surrounding Chernobyl.
The power plant was the site of the worst nuclear disaster in the world in 1986.
The United Nations estimates 50 people died as a result of the disaster, but says the true death toll will never be known.
Many others have died since then, as a result of radiation exposure.
Experts are unsure if Chernobyl is safe right now, when it comes to radiation levels.
Radiation could decrease if movement, or military activity, stops.
Experts do not believe another nuclear disaster is likely.
Ukraine is worried about other things happening at Chernobyl.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova confirmed Friday that 92 workers were taken hostage by Russian troops.
The White House has condemned the "unlawful and dangerous hostage-taking," White House Press Secertary Jen Psaki said.
