President about Chernobyl: It is shared tragedy and lesson we must learn

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu spoke at a TV show about her visit to Chernobyl together with the Ukrainian president, emphasizing both the human dimension of the 1986 nuclear tragedy and the current nuclear security risks in the context of the ongoing war in the region.

Asked why she considered her presence at Chernobyl important, Maia Sandu explained that the gesture carries a strong charge of solidarity and collective memory.

"I received the invitation from President Zelensky, and especially because many Moldovans suffered as a result of this nuclear accident, the largest civilian nuclear accident in human history. I believed it was very important to be there to honor the sacrifice of the people who lost their lives and their health, and we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people whose health was affected," the president explained.

The head of state mentioned that her participation also had a component related to regional security, in the context of new risks generated by attacks on critical infrastructure: "But also to take part in a conference dedicated to raising funds to secure this facility at Chernobyl, a facility whose safety has been endangered by attacks from the Russian army. Over 40 countries and several international organizations contributed financially to build an arch over the sarcophagus, and in 2024 there were attacks that caused certain damage."

Maia Sandu warned that, in the absence of reinforcement measures, the risks may once again become real in the coming years.

"If these problems are not mitigated by 2030, we will once again face the problem of radioactive emissions, which are dangerous for the Republic of Moldova as well," the head of state underlined.

In her remarks, the president also offered an overview of how the Soviet authorities managed the Chernobyl catastrophe, stressing the lack of transparency.

"The Soviet regime, instead of controlling radiation, controlled information. For 10 days, enormous quantities of radiation were released into the atmosphere and only later were they reduced. We found out about this from communications by Western countries, because these radioactive clouds reached them as well. The Soviet regime, as usual, with no respect for human life, did not inform us, and we could not protect ourselves," Maia Sandu pointed out.

In the current context, marked by war near the borders of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu insisted on the need to prepare the population for emergency situations: "There is no imminent risk now, but when we have a war at our border and facilities, including nuclear power plants, are being targeted by attacks, we must be aware of the risks and it is good to know how to protect ourselves."

The president urged citizens to consult official information materials on emergency situations. "It is important for citizens to access the website of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, where there are guides for nuclear accidents. It is important that they are viewed together with children, because these are basic things that all of us must know," the head of state urged.

The statements come in a tense regional context, in which nuclear security and the protection of critical infrastructure have returned to the forefront of the international agenda.