Three Ukrainians were detained in Japan for broadcasting from the exclusion zone near the “Fukushima” nuclear power plant.
In Japan, police reported the arrest of a Ukrainian YouTuber with more than 6.5 million subscribers after he live-streamed his break-in to a house in the exclusion zone of the Fukushima-1 nuclear plant. Two more Ukrainians were detained with him, reports Barron’s.
The arrest took place on Wednesday, September 24, in an area declared a restricted zone after the 2011 nuclear disaster. The Ukrainians were detained for breaking into an unoccupied house in the city of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, early that day, Fukushima police told AFP.
“Police officers identified the suspects based on information provided by a citizen and arrested them at the scene of the crime,” a police representative said.
All three suspects pleaded guilty. In a live broadcast on YouTube, the YouTuber showed how three men were making tea in the house and examining objects apparently left behind by former residents.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Japan called the actions of its citizens unacceptable:
“We are deeply concerned about the information about the incident that happened in Fukushima prefecture on September 24 involving private individuals – Ukrainian citizens. We consider their actions unacceptable and apologize to all Japanese citizens whom they offended. We are convinced that this unfortunate incident should not call into question the sense of gratitude of Ukrainians for the friendship and sincere assistance of the Japanese people to Ukraine in difficult times tests”.
We will remind you that after the Fukushima disaster, which was caused by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, about 12% of the prefecture became a closed zone, and approximately 165,000 people left their homes – voluntarily or under evacuation orders. Radiation forced people to leave everything behind. Although many areas have already been declared safe, some places, including the one where the Ukrainians were streaming, are still considered unsafe.
