World Takes a Stand against Chornobyl Disaster: Never Again!

The world remembers that today, 40 years have passed since the historic night when the reactor at Chornobyl tore open and released more than poisonous radiation. It ultimately became the nuclear wound inflicted by Russia that ironically dealt a mortal blow to the evil empire. The anniversary of the catastrophe is not only a remembrance of loss. It is a testament to the Ukrainian nation’s resilience.

The European Union and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America issued separate statements condemning this catastrophe that was orchestrated by Moscow.

Following are their appropriate statements:

Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis delivered the statement by European Union at the United Nations:

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting.

I have the honor to make this statement on behalf of the EU and its member states.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

Exactly forty years ago, an accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant led to one of the most horrific nuclear disasters in history. It had widespread consequences across Europe and notably in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, causing fatalities, long-term health effects, food shortages, and environmental pollution that will last for many years to come. Around 350,000 people were forced to leave their homes in severely contaminated areas, facing social, economic and health-related consequences that continue to this day. We pay tribute to the memory of the victims, and to those who to this day continue to suffer from the consequences of the disaster.

The Chornobyl catastrophe serves as an important reminder to us all of our responsibility to do anything in our capacity to prevent nuclear accidents and to maintain and continuously improve the highest level of nuclear safety and security. In the decades since that fateful day in 1986, the EU has stood alongside the affected communities in the long work of remediation, medical support and environmental monitoring. We contributed over 400 million EUR to the New Safe Confinement, a vast steel arch which seals the reactor from the air and rain. It is not a monument to victory, but an acknowledgement that some things we set in motion cannot be undone, only contained.

This brings us to the present day. Alas, today, it is evident that one state – the Russian Federation – actively undermines nuclear safety and security in Europe and beyond with its targeted and large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These attacks, including on power lines and substations critical for the off-site power supply of nuclear power plants, increase the risk of a nuclear accident at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

Russia has also directly targeted and even temporarily occupied Ukrainian nuclear sites, damaging the facilities. It occupied the site of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in 2022 and recklessly struck the New Safe Confinement with a drone last year, tearing a 6-meter-wide hole in the sarcophagus, setting it ablaze and undermining the primary safety function of the structure. In response, the European Union mobilized an additional EURO 1 million to support Ukraine’s emergency works on the site. The EBRD assesses that repairs could cost at least 500 million EURO, with work needed to restore the structure to full functionality by 2030.

In addition, Russia continues to undermine the safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, notably with its unlawful occupation and illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the ongoing interruption of normal operations, such as impeding the rotation of personnel through occupied Ukrainian territory. We call on Russia to immediately return control of the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to its rightful owner –the competent Ukrainian authorities-, and refrain from any further actions targeting nuclear installations or Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

I want to reiterate the EU’s support for the IAEA’s efforts to assist Ukraine in ensuring nuclear safety, security and safeguards under these unprecedented circumstances. We commend the dedication and professionalism of the Agency’s staff deployed in Ukraine and thank the Director General for the regular updates to the IAEA’s Board of Governors.

President,

Marking 40 years since the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, we remember all those affected and we reiterate our utmost concern over the nuclear safety and security risks caused by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Let today’s commemoration be a moment to reflect on the importance of nuclear safety and security, and of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.

There must never be a second Chornobyl. Not in Ukraine, not anywhere.

 

Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

Forty years ago, in the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, unleashing the worst nuclear disaster in human history. The blast released more than 400 times the radioactive material of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, contaminating vast regions of Ukraine, Belarus, and Europe and leaving a legacy of devastation that endures to this day.

This catastrophe was not only a technological failure— it was a profound failure of governance, transparency, and respect for human life. The Soviet regime, led from moscow, concealed the true magnitude of the disaster, delaying warnings even as radiation spread. Thousands of innocent people, including children, were exposed to deadly contamination, and residents of nearby communities continued their daily lives unaware of the danger. Even as the crisis unfolded, authorities allowed public gatherings, placing countless lives at further risk.

The consequences of Chornobyl have been immense and enduring. Thousands perished, hundreds of thousands were displaced, and millions have suffered long-term health, environmental, and economic effects. The land itself still bears the scars of contamination— a stark reminder of the costs of negligence and secrecy.

Each year, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) joins communities around the world in commemorating this tragedy. On this 40th anniversary, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives, the bravery of the first responders and liquidators, and the resilience of all who continue to live with its consequences. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the victims of Chornobyl are never forgotten and that their ongoing needs remain a priority for the international community.

Today, the lessons of Chornobyl remain painfully relevant. russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, including its reckless actions around nuclear facilities, once again threatens global nuclear safety. The occupation and endangerment of these sites undermine basic safeguards and raise the risk of another catastrophe—not only for Ukraine, but for the world. Only a free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine, unburdened by russia’s temporary occupation and aggression, can serve as the true guarantor of nuclear safety within its borders.

On this solemn anniversary, UCCA calls on the international community to hold russia accountable, to strengthen protections for nuclear facilities in times of war, and to ensure that the crimes and consequences of Chornobyl are never forgotten.

Chornobyl was not just a tragedy—it was a crime enabled by tyranny. Its legacy demands truth, accountability, and justice—and UCCA will continue to stand firmly in pursuit of all three.