On the night of April 26, 1986, the world was shaken by one of the most devastating disasters in history — the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.
As a result of two nearly simultaneous explosions, a 1,000-ton slab covering Reactor No. 4 was displaced, and part of the building collapsed. This led to an uncontrollable graphite fire and the release of vast amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, continuing until the reactor was finally contained.
The most significant step in the aftermath was the construction of a massive sarcophagus over the damaged fourth reactor. The scale of the disaster could have been immeasurably worse were it not for the bravery and self-sacrifice of those who responded to the crisis at Chernobyl. Risking their lives, they shielded the world from further radioactive contamination.
We bow our heads in honour of the courage shown by the Chernobyl liquidators. Their unbreakable spirit and selflessness stand as an eternal symbol of heroism and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
