Forty years ago, on April 26, 1986, the world was shaken by the largest man-made disaster in human history – the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Today, we honor the memory of the victims of this tragedy and the heroism of those who stood in the path of the invisible death. 

Yet, Chornobyl is not merely a story of technical failure; it is a verdict on a Soviet system built on crimes and clinical lies – a regime that modern-day Russia is attempting to revive today.

The scale of the disaster was unprecedented: radiation levels in the destroyed reactor reached 20,000 roentgens, while a lethal dose is just 500 roentgens over five hours. The release of radioactive isotopes was 30 times greater than the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. More than 300,000 people were forced to leave their homes forever, and a total of 8.5 million people across Europe were exposed to radiation. The Exclusion Zone remains equal in size to Luxembourg, and the area within a 10 km radius of the station will not be safe for human habitation for 20,000 years.

The Soviet regime was guilty not only of the safety violations that led to the accident. Its true crime was the deliberate cover-up: the world remained unaware of the catastrophe for at least two days, while the authorities kept their own citizens in the dark for weeks. On May 1, 1986, while radiation was already everywhere, thousands in Kyiv were forced to participate in a demonstration. 

Today, Moscow continues this tradition of deception, using nuclear facilities as tools of blackmail. Russia has learned no lessons; instead, it has weaponized nuclear danger.

The 40th anniversary is a time to honor our heroes. We pay tribute to the feat of approximately 600,000 liquidators who saved the world at the cost of their own health and lives. 

Today, a new generation of heroes has emerged in Ukraine – our energy workers and nuclear professionals. Throughout the winter of 2025–2026, under massive Russian attacks, Ukrainian atomic workers maintained control over reactors in extreme conditions following emergency shutdowns caused by strikes on substations and drone incursions. Their professionalism has once again saved a continent that stood on the brink of disaster.

An act of particular barbarism was the Russian drone strike on the New Safe Confinement (NSC) in February 2025. The attack damaged both the outer and inner shells of the Arch protecting the destroyed Unit 4 and disabled the main crane system. 

Ukraine welcomes the leadership of France, the efforts of the G7, the EBRD, and the EU to restore this unique structure. We look forward to concrete commitments during the International Donor Conference to be held in Kyiv on April 26, 2026.

Our call on this day is simple: it is time to end nuclear blackmail. We appeal to all states that value global stability. Your role in increasing pressure on the aggressor is critical. The international community must prove that it has learned the lessons of 1986. 

It is necessary to fully isolate the Russian nuclear industry, impose sanctions against Rosatom, and restrict the aggressor’s rights within the IAEA. Ukraine proposes amendments to the Agency's Statute to allow for the restriction of the rights of aggressor states that violate nuclear safety principles. 

Russia must immediately return control of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to its rightful operator – Ukraine. 

Every additional air defense system and interceptor covering Ukrainian cities and its nuclear plants is a guarantee of stability for Europe. 

Do not wait for a new Chornobyl. Act now to protect life.