The Chernobyl Disaster

The United Nations (UN) has proclaimed April 26 International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. The day was first observed in 2016, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

The Chernobyl Disaster

The Chernobyl disaster was arguably the worst nuclear accident in history. On April 26, 1986, a reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in today's Ukraine experienced a catastrophic explosion and fire, releasing unprecedented levels of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.

Although the accident itself caused a relatively small number of casualties, its long-term effects are extensive and will continue to pose challenges for many future generations. Countless studies have documented the severe health and environmental problems caused by the accident, a sharp increase of thyroid cancer among children in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia constituting only one of many harrowing examples.