On 26 April 1986, at 1:23 a.m., the world changed forever. An accident occurred at the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which became the largest man-made disaster in the history of nuclear energy. A powerful explosion threw tons of radioactive substances into the air, which spread across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and many European countries.
Firefighters, power plant workers, military personnel and liquidators were the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy — thousands of people who risked their lives and health to stop the spread of radiation. Many of them were not warned about the real danger. According to official data, thousands of people died as a result of the accident, but experts estimate that the real figures are much higher.
Immediately after the accident, about 120,000 people were evacuated from Pripyat and the surrounding areas. A 30-kilometre exclusion zone was created, which remains uninhabitable to this day. More than three decades later, Chernobyl remains a symbol of the dangers of nuclear energy and, at the same time, of heroism.
Today, in the context of a full-scale war, Chernobyl is once again in the spotlight. At the beginning of the invasion, Russian troops temporarily occupied the exclusion zone, disregarding basic radiation safety.
On the night of 14 February 2025, Russia attacked the shelter of the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant with a strike drone equipped with a high-explosive warhead. This only highlighted the fragility of nuclear infrastructure in wartime and the need for international protection.
Every year on 26 April, Ukraine and the world commemorate the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy. This is not just a day of mourning, but also a reminder of humanity’s responsibility for the use of peaceful nuclear energy. And of the price we paid for negligence, disregard for safety and truth.