I've been looking up those radiated soldiers

[Hekate]

3. Regarding medical radioactive pellets: special care must be taken for whoever the patient lives with

Lots of cautionary behavior.

Because it is, essentially, poison. Useful in small doses for some things, but dangerous.

As for what the troops knew: nothing. They were lied to about their mission. They were undoubtedly born after the Chernobyl disaster. They live in a dictatorship where spreading news the ruler doesn’t want spread can get you 15 years in prison.

I doubt their immediate officers knew much either — comments from American military indicate that the system of NCOs we have does not exist in Russia. That and the thing about 15 years in the slammer.

And Chernobyl? The entire area is still deadly and will be just about forever. Does Putin the Poisoner care? What do you think?