Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday, as the country fears that Russia's more than four-year war could lead to a repeat of the worst nuclear disaster in history.
The Ukrainian government has said that Russia has repeatedly sent missiles and drones on a route close to the power plant to attack Ukrainian cities.
The commemoration of the disaster has taken on new meaning during Russia's invasion of the smaller neighboring country. Among other things, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry lashed out at Russia in a statement earlier this week.
- The Chernobyl disaster was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Russia in violation of safety procedures, and it was followed by lies and a cover-up. Today, the world must face the consequences of a totalitarian system that disregarded truth and science in favor of ideology and political power, according to the Reuters news agency.
It was in 1986 that Chernobyl's number four reactor melted down as a result of human error and changed world history.
At the time, Ukraine was a member of the Soviet Union, which, according to Reuters, actively tried to hide the extent of the disaster, which sent clouds of radioactive material over large parts of Europe.
The population in the area around Chernobyl in present-day Ukraine and in neighboring countries such as Belarus still lives in fear of the aftereffects.
According to Reuters, 31 firefighters and workers at the power plant died immediately after the accident - mainly due to acute radiation sickness.
Thousands have since succumbed to radiation-related diseases such as cancer, although the total number of deaths and the long-term health consequences are still under investigation. for intense debate.
Ukraine accuses Russia of attack on power plant
Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of attacking the power plant since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Last year, according to Ukraine, the Russians carried out an attack that pierced the outer shell called the NSC, which was established in 2016 to contain the remains of reactor number four.
In a new report, the environmental organization Greenpeace warns that it has not been possible to restore the NSC's function "fully", writes AFP.
- This increases the risk of the release of radioactivity into the environment, especially in the event of a collapse of the internal protection, says Greenpeace.
/ritzau/
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