Forty years since Chernobyl disaster: commemorative events for victims take place in Moldovan capital

Forty years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which occurred in 1986, when an explosion at reactor number four released massive amounts of radiation into the atmosphere, are marked on April 26. On this occasion, commemorative events for the victims of the nuclear catastrophe are held in Chisinau. The events began with the laying of flowers at the monument of the ruler Stephen the Great and Holy and continue with a rally dedicated to commemorating the victims of the nuclear disaster.

The accident, still considered the most severe in the history of nuclear energy, generated a radioactive cloud that quickly spread over much of Europe, affecting millions of people and contaminating vast areas of land. According to United Nations data, more than 3.5 million people were hit and approximately 50,000 square kilometers were contaminated.

According to official data, more than 3,500 citizens of Moldova took part in eliminating the consequences of the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Around 70 out of the total number of participants were employees of the Interior Ministry and over 3,000 were reservists – including officers called up by military commissariats, as well as other specialists.

More than a third of the liquidators died in the years following the intervention. At the beginning of 2025, it was estimated that about 1,865 of them were still alive. Most of the survivors face serious health problems. The majority suffer from various degrees of disability as a result of exposure to intense radiation in the affected area.

Following the explosion, Soviet authorities intervened to limit the effects by covering the destroyed reactor with a concrete and steel “sarcophagus.” However, the structure, built under emergency conditions, was not meant to last in the long term. Thus, in 2016, a new protective structure was completed – a huge steel arch designed to isolate the area for about a century and to allow the safe dismantling of the reactor.

The most affected countries, in addition to those of the former USSR, were Norway, Sweden, Finland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Austria, Romania, Greece and extensive parts of Germany and the United Kingdom. According to the BBC, in some regions, including in the UK, restrictions on agricultural products were imposed for years due to radioactive contamination.

Four decades later, the consequences for public health and the environment continue to be felt. Thousands of people, including children from the affected regions, have suffered from illnesses associated with radiation exposure.

Although the plant is no longer operational, the Chernobyl area remains under constant monitoring and requires ongoing interventions to prevent risks. In recent years, the site has also become a tourist destination for people interested in the history of the disaster.

The regional context further complicates the situation: in 2022, the area was temporarily occupied by Russian troops on the first days of the invasion of Ukraine. Subsequently, Ukrainian authorities reported additional risks, including partial damage to the protective structure following recent incidents, although experts say that there is no immediate cause for alarm.

Forty years after the tragedy, Chernobyl stays a symbol of the dangers of improperly managed nuclear energy and a warning about the long-term impact of such disasters.