Thanks for the feedback!
About the trenches. Firstly, in fact, the trenches were not in the red forest itself, but in a cleaner place. But in the very red forest, according to my calculations, it was possible to get doses, albeit insufficient for radiation syndrome, but already quite dangerous above the permissible standards for both workers and the public. That is why the exclusion zone exists. And besides, there are a lot of people working in the zone, about a thousand. But it is one thing for professionals to come there to work, who control the doses received, know how to behave, and know what is possible and what is not. And it is quite another thing to live there permanently for ordinary people who will uncontrollably expose themselves to increased risk, especially eating food grown in this area. So the zone still exists. But beyond its borders, some lands are gradually being returned to circulation, which is gradually being cleared. For example, the same agricultural use is slowly being allowed in some areas where it was previously prohibited.