40 years since the Chornobyl disaster – the largest man-made nuclear catastrophe in history.
It began with a reactor experiment under Moscow’s orders, violating basic safety rules. In the days that followed, the Soviet authorities concealed the truth, delaying evacuation and leaving millions exposed to radiation.
The consequences spread far beyond Ukraine and are still felt today. Entire regions were contaminated, and hundreds of thousands of lives were changed forever.
Decades later, this warning remains painfully relevant. Russia’s full-scale invasion has brought nuclear threats back to Europe – from the temporary occupation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and a drone strike on its protective shelter, to the ongoing risks and militarisation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Today, “Russia uses nuclear facilities as tools of pressure and blackmail” – showing how little has changed in its approach to safety and truth.
Chornobyl is not only a tragedy of the past. It is a reminder of what happens when safety is ignored, and truth is hidden – and why this must never be repeated.
Source: ukraine.ua
