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Chernobyl Hero: Meteorologist Braved Russian Occupation
13 Apr
Summary
- Meteorologist Lyudmila Dyblenko continued vital measurements during Russian occupation.
- She used an old mobile phone to transmit data from hidden spots.
- Her bravery ensured no data gap in Chernobyl exclusion zone analysis.

When Russian troops invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Chernobyl exclusion zone was occupied. Meteorologist Lyudmila Dyblenko found herself trapped but resolved to continue her vital work. Facing power outages, she bravely slipped out to manually take radiation, temperature, and wind readings.
Dyblenko ingeniously used an old mobile phone with a better aerial to transmit data from nearby locations offering a weak signal. Her meticulous efforts ensured there was no gap in the scientific data from the exclusion zone during the occupation.
Her courage was recognized by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who awarded her a medal for her bravery and dedication to her job and country.