On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukrainian organizations called on the international community to strengthen the protection of nuclear facilities and hold Russia accountable for threats to global security amid the war in Ukraine
UCCA calls on the world for responsibility and nuclear safety
The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America called on the international community to strengthen the protection of nuclear facilities and hold Russia accountable for threats to global security. The statement, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, emphasizes the scale of the 1986 tragedy and its long-term consequences, which are still felt today.
“Chernobyl was not just a tragedy – it was a crime made possible by tyranny. Its legacy demands truth, responsibility and justice,” the post says.
Forty years ago, on April 26, 1986, the explosion at the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant became the largest nuclear disaster in human history. The radioactive release was 400 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, forever changing the fate of millions of people in Ukraine, Belarus and Europe. This tragedy became not only a technical failure, but also a symbol of the criminal negligence of the Soviet regime, which for the sake of ideology hid the truth from its own people, exposing children and adults to mortal danger during the May demonstrations.
The consequences of the accident reportedly remain a stark reminder of the cost of silence: thousands of deaths, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons, and millions of people who have suffered medical and economic losses. The land itself still bears the traces of contamination, and the international community continues to support those living with the consequences of the disaster. The UCCA emphasizes the importance of honoring the courage of the liquidators who were the first to take on the blow of the invisible enemy.
It is also noted that today the memory of Chernobyl takes on a special sharpness due to the full-scale aggression of Russia. The occupation of Ukrainian nuclear facilities and the irresponsible actions of the aggressor once again put the world on the brink of global catastrophe, undermining the basic mechanisms of international security. The UCCA calls on the international community to take decisive action to prevent a repeat of history.
“Only a free, independent and sovereign Ukraine, not burdened by temporary occupation and aggression by Russia, can be a true guarantor of nuclear safety on its territory,” the post emphasizes.
According to the committee representatives, the international community must make every effort to protect nuclear power plants in times of war and hold Russia accountable for nuclear blackmail. Only justice and strict adherence to safety standards can prevent new tragedies.
“The UCCA will continue to stand firm in defense of truth, responsibility and justice,” he concluded.
UFWO calls on the world to strengthen protection of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFOU) has published a report on the impact of Russian aggression on the nuclear safety of Ukraine and Europe and called on the international community to take decisive action.
“For the first time in history, operating civilian nuclear facilities have found themselves in a zone of active hostilities,” the document states.
The report, prepared based on data from the IAEA, the UN Security Council and other international sources, reportedly analyzed events from the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 to the end of 2025. It is noted that shelling, air strikes, personnel problems and the loss of external power supply have significantly affected the level of nuclear safety in Ukraine.
In particular, the document recalls that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was under occupation by Russian troops from February 24 to March 31, 2022, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, captured on March 4, 2022, still remains under Russian control. During the occupation, dangerous actions were recorded, including the movement of equipment through radioactively contaminated territories and damage to infrastructure.
It is also noted that in 2025, a Russian drone hit the protective arch over the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl NPP, which led to damage to the structures and a temporary suspension of work on decommissioning the plant. At the same time, shelling was repeatedly recorded at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which damaged external power supply systems and created risks of accidents.
“The risk of an accident increases the longer the war lasts,” the report notes, citing statements by the IAEA Director General.
The document specifically emphasizes the role of the IAEA, which has been implementing a comprehensive program of support for Ukraine since 2022. It includes permanent missions at nuclear facilities, equipment supply, medical assistance to personnel and emergency response. As of March 2026, the agency had carried out 251 mission rotations and supplied equipment worth over 22.3 million euros.
The SFZHO also called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry, achieve the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and recognize the actions of the Russian Federation as nuclear terrorism.
“The occupation and exposure of nuclear facilities to danger increase the risk of a new catastrophe – not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole world,” the appeal states.
According to the authors, on the anniversary of the tragedy, the world should not only honor the memory of the victims of Chernobyl, but also draw conclusions to prevent new nuclear threats in wartime.
“The legacy of Chernobyl requires truth, responsibility, and justice,” the document summarizes.
In order to prevent a nuclear catastrophe in war conditions, the SFZHO appeals to the UN, the IAEA, and the governments of democratic countries with an appeal:
- To increase sanctions pressure on the Russian nuclear industry (Rosatom), which is an accomplice in war crimes
- To achieve the complete demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and its return to Ukrainian control
- To internationally recognize the actions of the Russian Federation as nuclear terrorism.
Photo: AI generated
Author: Inna Mikhno