The Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet) published data indicating an "extremely high" level of radiation pollution in the Southern Urals. According to the press service of Roshydromet, the radiation contamination was recorded between September 26 and October 1. The contamination by isotopes of ruthenium (Ru-106) exceeded the norm by 986 times. At the end of September, decay products were found in the Republic of Tatarstan, in Volgograd and Rostov-on-Don. From September 29 to October 3, an increase in the concentration of ruthenium-106 was noted in the atmosphere of all European countries, "starting from Italy and further to the north of Europe". Recall that in late September in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France, scientists have encountered elevated levels of the isotope ruthenium-106. According to the Institute of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of France (IRSN), an accident could occur at one of the nuclear facilities of Russia or Kazakhstan. The IRSN suggested that a leak could occur at a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility or in a nuclear medicine center. Based on weather conditions, the institute stated that it most likely occurred south of the Ural Mountains. Then the Russian authorities said they did not know about the accident in their territory. Ruthenium-106 is used for radiation therapy of eye tumors, and sometimes also as an energy source for satellites. At nuclear power plants, this radioactive isotope is not used.