Investigation blames Russian facility for last year’s ruthenium isotope leak

In early October 2017, the radionuclide ruthenium-106 was detected all over Europe – the first time it had been recorded on a continental scale since the Chernobyl disaster. A nuclear reprocessing facility in Russia became the focus of attention. Now, in their final report, French authorities have confirmed that a significant quantity of ruthenium was released from the South Ural region, probably from processing of spent nuclear fuel. But the Russian authorities deny any leaks occurred at their facilities in this area and are seeking further data on weather effects.