A batch of vodka made with apples grown close to the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been seized by authorities following an investigation by Ukrainian security services.
About 1,500 bottles of “Atomik” vodka were confiscated by Kyiv prosecutors on March 19, the company behind the product said in a statement, Newsweek reported. The vodka is the first product to be produced in the area since the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986.
The Chernobyl Spirit Company’s goal is to “produce high quality artisan vodka from land in the areas of Ukraine abandoned after the Chernobyl accident,” according to the company’s website.
The alcohol is made using apples from the Narodychi District, one of the inhabited areas most affected by the accident. (RELATED: Cuomo Helped Fossil Fuel Usage Surge In Just 1 Week By Shutting Down Nuclear Power Plant)
According to the company, studies by Ukrainian and British scientists have shown that slightly radioactive products from the zone could be used to make vodka with levels of radioactivity safe to consume.
“We are working hard to set up a business to help bring jobs and investment to the Chernobyl affected areas of Ukraine and to further support the community with 75% of any profits we make,” said Professor Jim Smith, who helped to start the company.
‘Prof Smith, who is based at Portsmouth University, explained that it was “no more radioactive than any other vodka”.’ https://t.co/GYbRtRSFC2
— Christopher Snowdon (@cjsnowdon) May 7, 2021
“Our first production of ATOMIK Apple Spirit has been seized by Ukrainian security services for reasons unclear to us,” the company said in a statement on their website. “We are working hard to get it released, but we can’t tell you anything yet.”
“It seems that they are accusing us of using forged Ukrainian excise stamps, but this doesn’t make sense since the bottles are for the UK market and are clearly labelled with valid UK excise stamps”. (RELATED: Biden Pushing New Tax Credits For Nuclear Power Plants In Infrastructure Plan — Will Republicans Now Support It?)
Elina Smirnova, the lawyer representing the company in court, said that the seizure is “a clear example of violation of Ukrainian Law.”
Dr. Gennady Laptev, who worked at Chernobyl during the first weeks following the accident, said that he hopes the issue will be resolved so the team can continue to help the people affected by the nuclear disaster.
“We hope this issue can be resolved so that we can continue our work trying to help people affected by the devastating social and economic impacts Chernobyl had on communities.”