Address of NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov on the occasion of the anniversary of the tragedy at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station

Thirty years ago, the greatest nuclear catastrophe in the history of humankind occurred at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station. Twenty regions of Ukraine suffered from its damaging effects. Because of radiation injury, dozens of thousands of people lost their health, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled from their homes, abandoning their roots, and many of our compatriots are still living on contaminated lands.

At that time, thirty years ago, the consequences of the Chornobyl accident could have been much worse. Only thanks to the self-sacrifice of the liquidators, the isolation of fire at the power station came off. We bow our heads low before the heroes, who at the expense of their lives defended the world from radioactive death.

The current year is declared the year of commemorating the liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station and of the victims of the Chornobyl disaster. The executive powers are assigned to take measures aimed at the strengthening of the social protection of the citizens affected by the Chornobyl catastrophe, the liquidators of the consequences of the accident and at the creation of proper conditions for economic rehabilitation and development of territories affected by radioactive contamination.

For the revival of the country, its economy, and in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedy, solidarity, understanding and harmony are required. We must do everything so that this terrible man-made disaster that caused severe humanitarian consequences will never happen again.