On the 4th anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, via the toxic ‘Chornobyl/Chernobyl Exclusion Zone’, Chernobyl Children International (CCI) has called for renewed international solidarity with children and families living through ongoing conflict, displacement, and deepening humanitarian uncertainty, as the world approaches the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
Speaking about the anniversary of the war, CCI Founder and Voluntary CEO Adi Roche said that recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, alongside last year’s drone strike on the protective shelter at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, highlight the growing intersection between humanitarian crisis and nuclear risk.
“As we approach the 40th Anniversary of Chornobyl, we are reminded of the devastating and lasting impact a single nuclear disaster can have on children, families, and entire generations. Chornobyl and the war in Ukraine has become even more pertinent, particularly following the last year’s strikes on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant further escalating the realms of war. The ‘impregnable’ sarcophagus that was meant to protect humanity is scarred and breached, heightening the risk of another nuclear catastrophe and it brings with it a sense of foreboding for wars of the future.”
“The ‘weaponising’ of nuclear power plants brings our world to a very dangerous precipice…holding the world to ransom. Never before in the history of the atomic age has a nuclear facility been taken over, always remaining globally ‘off limits’ because of their lethal potential to destroy the planet. We are playing Russian Roulette with a loaded gun. ”
“It is deeply troubling that, four decades on, the region again faces dangers that threaten both people and environment. The attack on Chornobyl last year was a stark reminder that the lessons of history must never be forgotten. We neglect Ukraine at our peril.” Roche continued.
Recent large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid have placed enormous strain on power generation and transmission systems across the country. CCI warned that repeated damage to energy infrastructure increases risks for civilian populations and raises serious concerns for nuclear safety, as stable power supplies are essential for the safe operation of nuclear facilities.
Since the beginning of the war and the invasion of the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants, CCI have been advocating for all nuclear facilities be deemed a ‘No War Zone’ and for World Leaders to invoke the Hague Convention which defines any attack on a nuclear facility to be a ‘war crime’.
As a result of these 4 decades of experience, CCI had the infrastructure to immediately respond nimbly and quickly following the invasion of Ukraine, via the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The charity were not only able to continue programmes, but also target areas of unique need. This includes direct humanitarian aid deliveries, winterising projects and relocating its life-saving Cardiac Programme from Kharkiv and Kyiv to Lviv in the East.
