Authors: Shaun Burnie, Jan Vande Putte, Daryna Rogachuk, Greenpeace Green Reconstruction Ukraine Project Chornobyl is one of the most recognised synonyms for disaster in the world. Its legacy is to serve as a universal reminder of the terrible consequences of nuclear power when it goes wrong: on this day in 1986, a test procedure produced an explosion at the power plant in Pripyat, Ukraine, causing a chain reaction that blew a colossal release of radioactive contamination across Europe and event
On the anniversary of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the world to put pressure on Russia to ensure the liberation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) from the Russians.
The Zaporizhzhia plant – the largest nuclear plant in Europe – has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. The Chornobyl plant was also occupied by Moscow's forces for 35 days at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Nuclear Power Plant: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long warned of the risks of a disaster at Zaporizhzhia, Europe s largest nuclear plant, and urged an end to fighting in the area.
Russia has alleged that Ukraine targeted the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station under Russian control, demanding a response from the West. However, Kyiv has denied involvement in the attacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long warned of risks at Zaporizhzhia, Europe s largest nuclear plant, and urged an end to the fighting. The plant, near the site of the Chornobyl disaster, has reactors in cold shutdown, except for one in "hot shutdown" for heating. The IAEA confirmed attacks on the plant but did not assign blame.