An Exhibition Highlighting Chornobyl’s Lessons and Modern Challenges Presented in the Kyiv
The art and technology exhibition «Chornobyl. 40 Years After. A History that Obliges Us», which is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), has opened in Kyiv. It serves as both a commemoration and a powerful warning regarding contemporary threats to nuclear safety and security. The Editorial Board of the Uatom.org website attended the event.
«The lack of a resolute international response to Russia’s occupation of nuclear facilities, particularly the Zaporizhzhia and Chornobyl NPPs, suggests a dangerous disregard for history», said Serhiy Tarakanov, Director General of the Chornobyl NPP, at the exhibition’s opening. «If these actions go unpunished, it suggests that the world has either failed to learn the lessons of Chornobyl, or has already forgotten them».
Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, emphasised that the Chornobyl disaster was a harsh but vital lesson for the world. While Ukraine has learned from this tragedy, Russia continues to demonstrate a complete disregard for these lessons by resorting to nuclear blackmail and endangering the security of Europe. «The Zaporizhzhia NPP has already endured 14 station blackouts, an attack was launched against the New Safe Confinement and the occupation of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant continues. These are all manifestations of systemic nuclear terrorism that could have repercussions far beyond Ukraine’s borders», the government official stated.
As part of the event, Andriy Pyshnyy, the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, presented a commemorative coin titled «To Those Who Saved the World», dedicated to the Chornobyl liquidators. According to Mr. Pyshnyy, the coin serves as a reminder that such tragedies must never be allowed to happen again, while also standing as a token of gratitude to those who stopped the disaster at the cost of their own lives. The symbolic inscriptions «Chorno» (black) and «Byl» (pain) emphasise the tragedy’s profound emotional impact, which remains a painful memory for millions of Ukrainians even 40 years later.
After the official proceedings, Renata Yaresko, the exhibition’s curator and director of the Comms True Agency information and communication agency, conducted a guided tour for the attendees. She introduced them to three themed rooms exploring Chornobyl through the dimensions of the past, present and future.
«This exhibition puts the value of life at its core. It tells the true story of Chornobyl, dispels myths and shapes the nuclear safety culture that emerged in the aftermath of the accident. The history of Chornobyl obliges us to speak the truth, particularly today, as Russia attempts to manipulate the facts», said Renata Iaresko.
The event brought together government officials, representatives of specialised agencies, international partners, scientists and the media to reflect on the lessons of Chornobyl, honour the heroic liquidators and promote a strong safety culture for future generations.
The exhibition «Chornobyl. 40 Years After. A History that Obliges Us» organised by the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, has received financial backing from the European Union. It is also co-organised by the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), the Energy Safety Group and the Toronto-Kyiv Complex, among other partners.
Uatom.org Editorial Board
