Ukrainian YouTuber Arrested in Fukushima for Trespassing in Nuclear Exclusion Zone

A Ukrainian YouTuber boasting more than 6.5 million followers was taken into custody in Japan after livestreaming his unauthorized entry into a home within Fukushima’s nuclear exclusion zone, according to police reports and media statements on Friday.

The incident occurred in an area still deemed off-limits following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, marking the latest in a series of problematic incidents involving foreign visitors seeking attention through reckless behavior in Japan.

On Wednesday morning, two additional Ukrainians were apprehended alongside the YouTuber after they entered the vacant property in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima police confirmed that citizen tips led officers to discover and arrest the trio while they were inside the premises.

All three individuals acknowledged their wrongdoing, as reported by TV Asahi, which also aired footage from the livestream showing the men making tea and inspecting belongings left behind by former residents.

The 2011 nuclear catastrophe, triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, rendered around 12 percent of Fukushima Prefecture restricted to access. Approximately 165,000 people were forced to abandon their homes as a result of evacuation orders or voluntary displacement due to radiation contamination.

Despite gradual improvements in safety, certain zones, including the one where the Ukrainian group trespassed, remain hazardous and prohibited.

Expressing regret over the incident, former Ukrainian ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky took to social media platform X to apologize on behalf of the nationals involved, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable.

This occurrence echoes a 2023 case involving a U.S. livestreamer known as Johnny Somali, who was arrested for intruding on a construction site. In video evidence, the 23-year-old Ismael Ramsey Khalid repeatedly shouted "Fukushima" at workers while wearing a face mask and displayed disruptive conduct towards train passengers with references to historic atomic bombings.

A surge in tourist arrivals has led to increased frustration among local residents about inappropriate conduct by some visitors. Reflecting this growing concern, the "Japanese first" Sanseito party secured significant gains in this year’s Upper House election by focusing on issues related to over-tourism and immigration.

The recent arrests highlight ongoing challenges in balancing Japan’s hospitality with the enforcement of safety and cultural respect amid rising international tourism.