[altgoogler]

Take a look at the map. Chernobyl sits right on the border of Belarus, 130km to Kyiv on the western side of Dnieper river.

They didn't take Chernobyl to take the reactor, they took it because it is extremely strategic if the goal is to assault Kyiv.

[Symmetry]

Also, it's a pretty unpopulated region and for that reason easier to move large forces through without trouble.

And as a minor consideration, "We captured Chernobyl, protecting you good Russians from Ukranian nuclear threats" can be used as propaganda.

[seanw444]

This is most certainly the correct answer. It's the shortest shortcut to the enemy's capital, despite being an exclusion zone.