Angered Chernobyl protesters storm Ukrainian Parliament

Some 1,000 former Chernobyl disaster clean-up crew members angered with planned cuts of social benefits have stormed the Ukrainian parliament building. The protesters chanting “Shame!” crashed through the metal cordon surrounding the building but were stopped by police from entering the parliament. The protesters have demanded that lawmakers leave the building for direct talks and agree to pass amendments to prevent the infringement of former Chernobyl rescuers and other citizens’ interests. Several opposition MPs emerged from the building to address the protesters, but their words were inaudible due to the crowd’s chanting. In early September, Ukrainian lawmakers passed a bill in the first reading canceling social benefits for some 10 million citizens, including those involved in a clean-up operation following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. An explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in April 1986 resulted in highly radioactive fallout in the atmosphere over an extensive area. A 30-kilometer (19-mile) exclusion zone was introduced following the accident.