One of the most tragic dates in our history is approaching – the Chernobyl tragedy. Forty years… It seems that we already know everything about it, these days are described minute by minute, directors, photojournalists, poets, writers have recreated, written, recorded all possible aspects of this event. However, every year we discover something in previously classified archives, learn through “oral history”, find new terrible traces of it. We will give a few numbers in order to use their dispassionate language to declare again and again the inadmissibility of such catastrophes, about a very careful attitude towards the atom.

So,  Chernobyl in numbers and dates:

In 1977, the first unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was launched.

The fourth power unit of the Chernobyl NPP operated for 2 years – it was launched at full capacity in 1984. It was the “youngest” and most modern reactor.

500,000 people died from radiation, according to estimates by independent experts.

8.5 million residents of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia received significant doses of radiation in the days following the accident.

More than 600,000 people became liquidators of the accident - fighting the fire and clearing the rubble.

200 thousand square kilometers - this is the area over which the effects of radiation spread.

400 species of animals, birds and fish, and 1,200 species of flora continue to exist in the “exclusion zone”, where people are prohibited from living due to significant and catastrophic pollution of the air, soil and water.

From April 26 to October 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was out of operation. In October 1986, units 1 and 2 were put back into operation; in December 1987, unit 3 resumed operation. Unit 4 did not start.

December 1995 – a memorandum was signed between Ukraine and the G7 countries and the European Union Commission, according to which the preparation of a program for the complete closure of the station began. 

December 15, 2000 – The Chernobyl nuclear power plant was completely shut down.

On February 24, 2022, units of the invaders advancing from the Republic of Belarus entered the exclusion zone, seized the facilities of the Chernobyl NPP, and took the station's personnel hostage.

On March 31, 2022, Russian troops completely withdrew from the territory of the Chernobyl NPP.

On February 14, 2025, a Russian attack drone of the Shahed (Geran-2) type damaged the shelter of the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl NPP.

Leaving the territory of the station, the occupiers captured and took to the Russian Federation civilian employees of the Chernobyl NPP and the National Guardsmen who were guarding it.

Not everyone has returned home yet...

The bells of Chernobyl are once again heard by all conscious and responsible earthlings!

The article uses materials from the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.