Russia's a big place. Rest assured, as an American, I could find plenty of Americans who have no idea what happened at Chernobyl or why it would make a less-than-five-star campground.

> Everyone knew about the disaster for a long time.

I think you're falling into the mistake everyone is like you, and has access to the info you had access to.

In the meantime, there is plenty of documented evidence that Russian soldiers who were ordered to move into Ukraine were totally oblivious to the area they were occupying. There are even comical reports from the start of the war on how Ukraine thwarted the advance of some Russian columns towards Kyiv by switching road signs.

You’re right. I just want to highlight that any ignorance of Chernobyl is more likely a general failure of Russia’s education than anything ideologically driven.