Ukraine observed the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday, with memorial events overshadowed by heightened concerns over potential nuclear catastrophes in Europe due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The commemoration of the 1986 explosion at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Prypiat occurs as Kyiv voices increasing worry that Russia's sustained military operations close to nuclear facilities elevate the risk of a significant accident.
The original catastrophe on April 26, 1986, resulted in reactor four's explosion and meltdown, dispersing radioactive substances across vast swathes of Europe. This occurred after Soviet authorities initially attempted to downplay the severity of the incident.
Subsequent evacuations affected hundreds of thousands, leading to extensive land contamination and radiation exposure for millions. The precise long-term death toll remains a subject of debate, though radiation-linked ailments, including cancers, are widely documented among survivors and those involved in the clean-up efforts.
Kyiv has reported that Moscow has frequently directed missiles and drones along flight paths near nuclear installations, including Chornobyl, since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Ukraine also alleges that a crucial protective structure covering the damaged reactor suffered damage from a strike last year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted the persistent dangers posed by Russia's continued pressure on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and nuclear sites.
"The risks are currently no less significant due to Russia's actions concerning our Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, and generally with our energy and our land," Zelenskiy stated to journalists in Kyiv.
Russian forces currently control the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, which is Europe's largest nuclear facility. Ukraine's state nuclear agency indicated that the plant experienced its fifteenth temporary power outage since Russian troops occupied it in March 2022.
Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urged immediate action on damaged nuclear infrastructure during his visit to Kyiv.
"Repairs must commence as swiftly as possible," Grossi remarked.
Ukraine's chief prosecutor indicated that radar data showed at least 92 Russian drones had operated within a five-kilometre radius of the Chornobyl containment structure since June 2024.
In February 2025, a Russian drone strike compromised the extensive containment arch that was installed in 2016 over the damaged reactor to prevent radioactive release from the original 1986 sarcophagus. Although no radiation leaks were reported, authorities confirmed that the structure requires substantial repairs, estimated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to exceed €500 million.
Commemorations were held across Ukraine, including at the Chornobyl site itself and in Kyiv, where President Zelenskiy, alongside visiting Moldovan President Maia Sandu and other officials, lit a candle. International dignitaries, such as the EU's energy commissioner, also attended events and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine's energy sector, a frequent target of Russian assaults.
According to Energoatom, the state-owned operator, nuclear energy currently supplies approximately 70% of Ukraine's electricity, making its nuclear infrastructure vital for national energy security during the war.
During the memorial services, survivors and clean-up workers recounted the aftermath of the 1986 disaster and alleged cover-ups by the Soviet authorities regarding its severity.
Serhii Balashov, who participated in the Chornobyl clean-up operation, expressed that authorities failed to acknowledge the health consequences for the workers.
"They did not even recognise the connection between our illnesses and our work in Chornobyl for the clean-up," he stated.
Pope Leo, in a statement marking the anniversary, conveyed that the disaster served as a profound moral lesson for humanity.
He described Chornobyl as having left "a mark on humankind’s collective conscience" and advocated for the continuous use of nuclear energy "to support life and peace."
Currently, the Chornobyl exclusion zone, an area of about 2,600 square kilometres north of Kyiv, remains largely uninhabited. The power plant, which was briefly occupied by Russian forces in the early stages of the invasion, is now managed by Ukrainian personnel who work in rotation to oversee its long- term decommissioning. The final reactor at the plant was shut down in 2000.
Within the facility, the control room for reactor four is preserved as it was, filled with aged Soviet-era equipment. Outside, nature has begun to reclaim the landscape, with wildlife such as moose and wild horses inhabiting the abandoned region.
Officials caution that after four decades, the legacy of Chornobyl is once again being defined by conflict—not as a historical event, but as a persistent and evolving threat.
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