Resilience and Risks to Radiological Events in Times of War

In the context of nuclear and radiological accidents, strengthening preparedness and response capabilities is essential, especially under the complex and unstable conditions of armed conflicts. While existing nuclear safety research generally assumes peaceful environments, it fails to account for the unique challenges posed by wartime scenarios, where access to affected sites, infrastructure stability, and responder safety are compromised. Armed conflicts increase risks not only for civilian populations but also for emergency response teams who may face logistical and safety barriers. This study seeks to address these gaps by developing tailored methodological and technological approaches to enhance resilience in nuclear emergency preparedness, response, and recovery systems. Using scenario-based planning, it emphasizes resilience assessments and ethical considerations to adapt existing frameworks to the specific risks of conflict zones. The outcome will be actionable guidelines, tools, and educational resources designed to improve nuclear safety protocols, ensuring better protection for both responders and affected populations in future conflict-related radiological incidents.