Ukraine Marks 40th Anniversary of Chernobyl Disaster Amid Ongoing War

Apr 26, 2026, 19:50

Introduction

On April 26, 2026, Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. These commemorations took place during a long military conflict with Russia, which has created new safety risks for the closed Chernobyl site and other active nuclear power plants.

Main Body

The 1986 disaster was caused by a failed safety test at Reactor 4, which led to an explosion and the spread of radioactive materials across Ukraine, Belarus, and Europe. Records show that about 50,000 people were permanently moved from the city of Pripyat. Experts still disagree on the total number of deaths; a 2005 UN report estimated 4,000 deaths, while a 2022 Ukrainian study suggested 41,000, and Greenpeace claimed the number could be near 100,000. Additionally, around 600,000 'liquidators' worked to clean up the site, and many suffered long-term health problems. In recent years, the Chernobyl site has become unstable again. After a brief Russian occupation in 2022, the area has faced drone attacks. Ukrainian officials claimed that a Russian drone strike in February 2025 damaged the New Safe Confinement, a protective shell built in 2019. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) emphasized that this damage weakened a key safety feature of the structure. While the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates repairs will cost 500 million euros, Russia has denied the attack and asserted that the event was staged by Ukraine. Other nuclear facilities have also been affected by the war. The Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022. Analysts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) criticized the fact that the plant lost power 14 times, calling it a major safety risk. Furthermore, because Russian strikes have destroyed electrical substations, Ukraine now relies on its remaining nuclear plants for about 70 percent of its electricity. President Zelensky has described these actions as 'nuclear terrorism,' whereas Russian officials claim their plants remain safe. Meanwhile, opposition leaders in Belarus have expressed concern over the lack of clear information regarding radiation levels.

Conclusion

The 40th anniversary shows a shift from managing the historical 1986 disaster to dealing with the immediate risks of war. The current situation remains dangerous due to the damaged structure at Chernobyl and the unstable status of the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Vocabulary Learning

commemorations (n.)
celebrations or memorial events to honor a past event慶祝；紀念活動
Example:The city organized several commemorations to mark the anniversary.
liquidators (n.)
people who worked to clean up a disaster site, especially at Chernobyl清理人員
Example:Around 600,000 liquidators were tasked with removing radioactive debris.
risk (n.)
a possibility of danger or loss風險
Example:The safety risks of the plant were heightened during the war.
terrorism (n.)
the use of violence or threats to create fear for political aims恐怖主義
Example:He described the attacks as nuclear terrorism.
unstable (adj.)
likely to change or collapse; not steady不穩定
Example:The unstable situation in the region has raised many concerns.

Sentence Learning

These commemorations took place during a long military conflict with Russia, which has created new safety risks for the closed Chernobyl site and other active nuclear power plants.
Relative Clause: This clause adds essential information about the conflict, specifying which conflict it is.關係子句: 此子句為「與俄羅斯的長期軍事衝突」提供必要的補充資訊，說明該衝突所造成的安全風險。
Records show that about 50,000 people were permanently moved from the city of Pripyat.
Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive construction to focus on the action (moving) rather than who performed it.被動語態: 句子採用被動語態，重點在於「被移動」的動作，而非執行者。
Experts still disagree on the total number of deaths; a 2005 UN report estimated 4,000 deaths, while a 2022 Ukrainian study suggested 41,000, and Greenpeace claimed the number could be near 100,000.
Contrastive Linking Word: The word "while" introduces a contrast between the two reports.對比連接詞: 「while」引入兩份報告之間的對比，表明它們的數字不同。
Furthermore, because Russian strikes have destroyed electrical substations, Ukraine now relies on its remaining nuclear plants for about 70 percent of its electricity.
Causal Conjunction: The word "because" explains the reason for Ukraine's reliance on nuclear plants.因果連接詞: 「because」說明俄羅斯攻擊導致電力設施被摧毀，因而烏克蘭必須依賴核電廠。