As Ukraine and Belarus on Tuesday marked the 30th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear accident with solemn words and an angry protest, some
of the men who were sent to the site in the first chaotic and
frightening days were gripped by painful memories.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko led a ceremony in Chernobyl, where work is underway to complete a 2 billion euro ($2.25 billion) long-term shelter over the building containing Chernobyl's exploded reactor. Once the structure is in place, work will begin to remove the reactor and its lava-like radioactive waste.
The disaster shone a spotlight on lax safety standards and government secrecy in the former Soviet Union. The explosion on April 26, 1986, was not reported by Soviet authorities for two days, and then only after winds had carried the fallout across Europe and Swedish experts had gone public with their concerns.
"We honor those who lost their health and require a special attention from the government and society," Poroshenko said. "It's with an everlasting pain in our hearts that we remember those who lost their lives to fight nuclear death."
About 600,000 people, often referred to as Chernobyl's "liquidators," were sent in to fight the fire at the nuclear plant and clean up the worst of its contamination. Thirty workers died either from the explosion or from acute radiation sickness within several months. The accident exposed millions in the region to dangerous levels of radiation and forced a wide-scale, permanent evacuation of hundreds of towns and villages in Ukraine and Belarus.
At a ceremony in their honor in Kiev, some of the former liquidators told The Associated Press of their ordeal and surprise that they lived through it.
Oleg Medvedev, now 65, was sent to the zone on the first day of the crisis, to help evacuate the workers' city of Pripyat, less than four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the destroyed reactor. Four days later "I already had to go away from the zone because I'd received the maximum allowable radiation dose. Thirty years passed and I'm still alive, despite doctors giving me five. I'm happy about that."
"My soul hurts when I think of those days," said Dmitry Mikhailov, 56. He was on a crew sent to evacuate a village where residents knew nothing of the accident.
"They smiled at us. They didn't understand what was happening," he said. "I wish I knew where and how they are
now. I just can't forget them."
In Minsk, the capital of Belarus, where the government is bringing farming to long fallow lands affected by Chernobyl fallout, more than 1,000 people held a protest march through the city center.
Belarus routinely cracks down on dissent, but authorities allowed the march.
"Chernobyl is continuing today. Our relatives and friends are dying of cancer," said 21-year-old protester Andrei Ostrovtsov.
The final death toll from Chernobyl is subject to speculation, due to the long-term effects of radiation, but ranges from an estimate of 9,000 by the World Health Organization to one of a possible 90,000 by the environmental group Greenpeace.
The Ukrainian government, however, has since scaled back benefits for Chernobyl survivors, making many feel betrayed by their own country.
"I went in there when everyone was fleeing. We were going right into the heat," said Mykola Bludchiy, who arrived in the Chernobyl exclusion zone on May 5, just days after the explosion. "And today everything is forgotten. It's a disgrace."
He spoke Tuesday after a ceremony in Kiev, where top officials were laying wreaths to a Chernobyl memorial.
At midnight on Monday, a Chernobyl vigil was held in the Ukrainian town of Slavutych, where many former Chernobyl workers were relocated.
Thirty years later, many could not hold back the tears as they brought flowers and candles to a memorial for the workers killed in the explosion. Some of the former liquidators dressed in white robes and caps for the memorial, just like the ones they had worn so many years ago.
Andriy Veprev, who had worked at the Chernobyl nuclear plant for 14 years before the explosion and helped to clean up the contamination, said memories of the mayhem in 1986 were still vivid in his mind.
"I'm proud of those guys who were with me and who are not with us now," he said.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin, in a message to the liquidators, called the Chernobyl disaster "a grave lesson for all of mankind."
(AP)
Ukrainians gather at the memorial to honor the memory of the victims of
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26,
2016. Ukraine marked the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant explosion.
Ukrainians light candles at the memorial to the victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine
marked the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
explosion.
Chernobyl veterans bring flowers to commemorate victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, during a ceremony at the memorial to Chernobyl
workers and firefighters in the town of Slavutych, Ukraine, early
Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, when the 4th unit of the plant exploded
early hours April 26, 1986. The city of Slavutych was built following
the evacuation of Pripyat, the town of the Chernobyl plant workers,
which was just 1.5 kilometers (about one mile) away from the plant. Some
50,000 Pripyat residents were evacuated after the disaster, taking only
a few belongings. They never returned, and workers and their families
now live in Slavutych.
Candles and flowers are placed in front of the memorial to Chernobyl
workers and firefighters in the town of Slavutych, Ukraine, early
Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, when the 4th unit of the plant exploded
early hours April 26, 1986. The city of Slavutych was built following
the evacuation of Pripyat, the town of the Chernobyl plant workers,
which was just 1.5 kilometers (about one mile) away from the plant. Some
50,000 Pripyat residents were evacuated after the disaster, taking only
a few belongings. They never returned, and workers and their families
now live in Slavutych.
A man lays flowers to commemorate victims of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster, during a ceremony at the memorial to Chernobyl workers and
firefighters in the town of Slavutych, Ukraine, early Tuesday, April 26,
2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster, when the 4th unit of the plant exploded early hours April 26,
1986. The city of Slavutych was built following the evacuation of
Pripyat, the town of the Chernobyl plant workers, which was just 1.5
kilometers (about one mile) away from the plant. Some 50,000 Pripyat
residents were evacuated after the disaster, taking only a few
belongings. They never returned, and workers and their families now live
in Slavutych.
Children attend a ceremony to commemorate victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, in the town of Slavutych, Ukraine, early Tuesday,
April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, when the 4th unit of the plant exploded early hours
April 26, 1986. The city of Slavutych was built following the evacuation
of Pripyat, the town of the Chernobyl plant workers, which was just 1.5
kilometers (about one mile) away from the plant. Some 50,000 Pripyat
residents were evacuated after the disaster, taking only a few
belongings. They never returned, and workers and their families now live
in Slavutych.
Ukrainians hold candles at the St. Michael Church to honor the memory of
the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, in Kiev, Ukraine,
Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marked the 30th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion.
Ukrainians hold candles at the St. Michael Church to honor the memory of
the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, in Kiev, Ukraine,
Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marked the 30th anniversary of the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion.
Ukrainians prepare to honor the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, at the St. Michael Church in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday,
April 26, 2016. Ukraine marked the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant explosion.
A soldier places portrait photos near the monument erected in memory of
the victims of the Chernobyl explosion in Ukraine's capital Kiev,
Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which spread radiation over much of
northern Europe.
Belarusian liquidators, veterans of the Chernobyl, bring flowers to
commemorate victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the memorial in
Minsk, Belarus, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Commemorative events are going
to be held later Tuesday outside the Chernobyl power stations as well
as in Belarus and Russia, neighboring countries that also suffered from
the fallout.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko lays flowers at a monument to the
victims of the Chernobyl tragedy outside the nuclear power plant in
Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine on Tuesday marked the 30th
anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the world’s
worst nuclear accident.
Nataliya Khodemchyuk, 64, from Ukraine, a widow of Chernobyl liquidator
Valery Khodemchyuk, sits at his grave at the Mitino Cemetery in Moscow,
during a ceremony on the 30th anniversary of the explosion at the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. About 600,000
people, often referred to as Chernobyl's "liquidators," were sent in to
fight the fire at the nuclear plant after an explosion on April 26,
1986.
Alexander Burinin, left, former Chernobyl liquidator, his wife Olga and
grandson Georgy visit Mitino Cemetery in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April
26, 2016 on the 30th anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl
nuclear plant. About 600,000 people, often referred to as Chernobyl's
"liquidators," were sent in to fight the fire at the nuclear plant after
an explosion on April 26, 1986.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko lays flowers at a monument to the
victims of the Chernobyl tragedy outside the nuclear power plant in
Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine on Tuesday marked the 30th
anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the world’s
worst nuclear accident.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, left, carries flowers as he
arrives at a monument to the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy for a
ceremony outside the nuclear power plant in the Ukraine, Tuesday, April
26, 2016. Ukraine on Tuesday marked the 30th anniversary of the
explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the world’s worst nuclear
accident.
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko carries flowers as he arrives at
the monument to the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy outside the nuclear
power plant in the Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine on Tuesday
marked the 30th anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear
plant, the world’s worst nuclear accident.
Ukrainians lay flowers to the tombstone that bears their relative's
names, during a ceremony to commemorate victims of Chernobyl tragedy at a
monument to them in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26,
2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear
disaster, which spread radiation over much of northern Europe.
Emergency Ministry Soldiers hold wreaths during a ceremony marking the
30th anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant
at Moscow's Mitino cemetery, Russia on Tuesday, April 26, 2016.
Commemorative events are going to be held later Tuesday outside the
Chernobyl power stations as well as in Belarus and Russia, neighbouring
countries that also suffered from the fallout.
A woman puts flowers to a monument to Chernobyl liquidators at Mitino
Cemetery in Moscow, during the 30th anniversary of the explosion at the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. About 600,000
people, often referred to as Chernobyl's "liquidators," were sent in to
fight the fire at the nuclear plant after an explosion on April 26,
1986.
Lithuania's soldiers take part at a ceremony to commemorate victims of
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the memorial to Chernobyl workers and
firefighters in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 26, 2016.
A woman holds a photograph of her husband who died following the
clean-up operations for the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, at the
Chernobyl's victim monument in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday,
April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, which spread radiation over much of northern Europe.
People take part at a ceremony to commemorate victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster at the memorial to Chernobyl workers and firefighters
in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tuesday, April 26, 2016.
A woman holds a photograph of her husband who died following the
clean-up operations for the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, at the
Chernobyl's victim monument in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday,
April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, which spread radiation over much of northern Europe.
Chernobyl veterans bring flowers to commemorate victims of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, during a ceremony at the memorial to Chernobyl
workers and firefighters in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday,
April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl
nuclear disaster, which spread radiation over much of northern Europe.
Belarusian liquidators, veterans of the Chernobyl, attend a ceremony to
commemorate victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the memorial in
Minsk, Belarus, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Commemorative events are going
to be held later Tuesday outside the Chernobyl power stations as well
as in Belarus and Russia, neighboring countries that also suffered from
the fallout.
A relative of a Chernobyl victim lays flowers at the photos near the
monument erected in memory of the victims of the Chernobyl explosion in
Ukraine's capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Ukraine marks
the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which spread
radiation over much of northern Europe.
Opposition supporters march carry a banner reading 'Respect nature,
respect Belarus' to commemorate Chernobyl nuclear disaster victims in
Minsk, Belarus, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Commemorative events are held
Tuesday outside the Chernobyl power station as well as in Belarus and
Russia, neighboring countries that also suffered from the fallout.
