The Vulnerability of Environmental Sensors Exposed in the 2022 CEZ Event

The events at the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) in Ukraine highlighted the fragility of environmental sensors in high-risk areas. Elevated gamma radiation levels were reported before the monitoring system went offline, leaving observers guessing. Security researchers suggest that the high values were spoofed, as disturbing the soil would not cause a significant increase in gamma readings. The possibility of electromagnetic interference or electronic warfare causing the incorrect data was ruled out. The manipulation of monitoring stations or the server processing the data is considered, but without forensic evidence, it remains conjecture. The incident emphasizes the need for hardened and redundant environmental sensor networks in disaster scenarios.