On the painful anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the 64th New York District Chapter of the Union of Ukrainian Women of America held an event called “Chernobyl: 40 Years Later – From Testimony to Awareness,” which combined a documentary screening and a panel discussion.
This was reported by UNWLA branch 64.
The event was opened by Taras Petrynenko’s song “Chernobyl Zone,” which set the emotional tone for the evening. Head of the 64th Branch, Lida Slyzh, welcomed the guests, emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of the tragedy and its lessons for the present.
The participants of the event watched the documentary “Nuclear Field,” created for the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.
“The tape brings back the voices of the liquidators from Kalush and the surrounding villages and places their testimonies in a broader historical context,” the SUA added.
The panel discussion was moderated by Iryna Bruchkovska. The discussion was joined by diplomat, UN Secretariat representative Oleksandr Matsuka, and ecologist, Fulbright scholar at the University at Buffalo Natalia Yaroshenko.
Olexandr Matsuka, in particular, shared his memories of the life of Kyiv residents in the first days after the Chernobyl accident.
“His examples of how the Soviet authorities hid the truth helped those present to better understand the policies of the USSR, its impact on people, and how Chernobyl became one of the factors that accelerated the collapse of the Union,” the organizers emphasized.
Nataliya Yaroshenko drew attention to the environmental changes after the disaster, as well as the situation after the deoccupation of the territory in 2023. She emphasized the importance of constant monitoring of the state of the environment and the consequences of the shelling, noting where you can follow up-to-date information about the Chernobyl Reserve.
After the official part, a reception was held, during which the participants had the opportunity to continue the discussion in an informal atmosphere.
The organizers expressed their gratitude to everyone who participated in the preparation of the event, especially noting the moderator of the event, Iryna Bruchkovska.
Photo: UNWLA branch 64
Author: Inna Mikhno