Chernobyl nuclear disaster commemorated in Chisinau; Ukraine's Ambassador to Moldova says nuclear security once again gaining critical importance

The Chernobyl disaster has been commemorated 40 years after the biggest nuclear catastrophe in history. The event, organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Moldova, brought together ambassadors, officials and eyewitnesses of the tragedy. Ukraine’s Ambassador Paun Rohovey emphasized that the 1986 explosion at the nuclear power plant had had far‑reaching economic, social and humanitarian consequences and that the crisis management was deeply affected by the Soviet authorities’ concealment of information.

The ambassador paid tribute to the more than 600,000 liquidators, who intervened in the first hours and months after the accident, preventing an even greater catastrophe.

“Their heroism stays an example of sacrifice for the entire world,” the Ukrainian official said. “In the current context, marked by the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, nuclear security is once again gaining critical importance, including because of the risks to nuclear facilities in the Chernobyl region,” Rohovey said.

Ambassador Paun Rohovey expressed gratitude to international partners, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Government of France, for their support in keeping the New Safe Confinement at Chernobyl secure, affected in 2025. According to preliminary estimates, its restoration would require more than 500 million euros, making consolidated international efforts necessary.

The event was attended by representatives of Moldova’s authorities, the diplomatic corps, development partners, as well as members of the community of liquidators.

Participants watched the EBRD documentary, Fixing Chernobyl, which presents the evolution of the site since1986 to the present day and visited a photography exhibition dedicated to the current state of the complex.

The commemoration of the Chernobyl victims takes place annually on 26 April. The explosion at Reactor 4 of the nuclear power plant, which occurred 40 years ago, triggered a radioactive cloud that affected a large part of Europe. According to the United Nations, more than 3.5 million people were affected and approximately 50,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated.

The Chernobyl disaster remains, to this day, the most severe nuclear accident in history.