Chernobyl disaster

Norway announced today that the elevated levels of radioactive cesium (Cs-137) detected near the border with Russia in the Arctic are likely due to a forest fire near Chernobyl in Ukraine, the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident.

The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant led to a radioactive cloud over large parts of the former Soviet Union, now the territories of Belarus, Ukraine & Russia

On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed a catastrophic event that would leave an indelible mark on history. In the heart of Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant became the epicenter of a tragedy that would reverberate for decades to come.

Against the background of the war in Ukraine, the world today remembers the worst nuclear accident in history. 37 years have passed since the tragedy at the Chernobyl NPP. A memorial ceremony for the victims will be held in Ukraine.

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine.

On this day, in 1986, a powerful explosion erupted in block 4 of the plant. It is difficult to determine the exact number of victims.

Dozens died immediately, but more than 100,000 people died from radiation-related cancer.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in which the reactor exploded in 1986, which is the most serious nuclear incident in history, fell into the hands of the Russians, confirmed the adviser to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyak.
The reactor is covered with a protective cover to prevent radiation.

The fire in the forest area around the Chernobyl NPP is extinguished, but it will continue to smolder for several days, TASS reported, quoting the head of the Ukrainian State Emergency Management Agency.

Forest fires in Chernobyl continue for more than a week, and nearly 400 firefighters are involved in their extinguishing, DPA reported.

Environmental experts fear that these fires could come in contact with radioactive ash on the ground and spread radioactive smoke to the capital Kiev, which is about 100 km south of Chernobyl.

The death toll is significantly higher than the official death toll. This is clear from the classified by the National Security Archive of the US report of the Chernobyl accident, RIA Novosti reports.

Graffiti in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Photo: Pavel Shumejko.

"I would describe my trip to the zone as a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Pavel Shumejko from North Macedonia. "I learned a lot about the zone and the accident and got to visit a lot of iconic places, starting from abandoned ruined villages, schools and hospitals to the ghost town of Pripyat."