My life as a meteorologist in Chernobyl under Russian occupation

image via New Scientist

April 13, 2026, 2:00 PM

• •Lyudmila Dyblenko, head of Chernobyl Meteorological Station, remained at the plant during Russian occupation.
• •She manually collected and transmitted data after the power was cut off.
• •Dyblenko confronted Russian soldiers to protect her work.
• •Her actions ensured continuous data for scientific analysis, earning her a medal.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lyudmila Dyblenko, head of the Chernobyl Meteorological Station, was trapped in the exclusion zone. Despite the danger, she continued taking vital radiation and weather measurements after her escape was blocked. Dyblenko worked manually, transmitting data using an old phone, and even confronted Russian soldiers to protect her work. Her dedication ensured continuous data, allowing for complete scientific analysis of the Chernobyl exclusion zone, earning her a medal from Ukraine's President.

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