Today Sunday (4/26), the Ukraine commemorates the 40th anniversary of the tragedy at Chernobyl, with ceremonies at the site of the former Soviet-era nuclear power plant.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be present at the main event. Security measures are tight due to the ongoing war since 2022 and the proximity of the region to Belarus.

In Kiev and other cities, commemorative actions have been planned for the victims. They include silence, exhibitions, concerts, screenings and wreath-laying. Similar ceremonies will be held in other former Soviet republics.

The disaster in question occurred today, April 26, 1986. During testing, reactor 4 was severely damaged. A large amount of radiation was released into the atmosphere. The clouds spread over much of Europe, with Belarus and western Russia most affected.

For months, the damaged reactor continued to emit dangerous levels of radiation. Estimates suggest tens of thousands of deaths were linked to the accident. More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the 30-kilometer exclusion zone.

Zelenski’s post

In a message on social media, Zelenski addressed the importance of the anniversary and the dangers of today.

He stressed that the reactor explosion released huge amounts of radioactive material, affecting hundreds of thousands of people for decades.

He recalled that a sarcophagus was originally built to limit radiation, and later the New Safe Confinement was created with the participation of dozens of countries. These structures remain critical to prevent further leakage.

At the same time, he accused Russia of increasing the risk of a new disaster. He said drone attacks have been recorded in the region, with one incident hitting the facility last year.

“People should not allow such risks,” he said, calling for pressure to stop the attacks.

He concluded by paying tribute to those who lost their lives, stressing that the memory of the tragedy remains alive.

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