Ukraine marks 40 years since Chernobyl disaster amid war fears
Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday, as reported by both The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post. The disaster, which occurred on 26 April 1986, remains the world's worst nuclear accident, and this year's anniversary comes amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and heightened concerns about the safety of the plant.
Coverage comparison
Reporting on the anniversary varies in focus. BBC – World provided a general overview, noting the accident's date and the contamination of Europe, while The Guardian emphasized the humanitarian and safety crisis at the Chornobyl plant, detailing damage from a recent Russian drone strike. The Jerusalem Post highlighted Kyiv's allegations that Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones near the plant, and the resulting damage to its protective shield.
The Guardian quoted a Ukrainian foreign ministry statement, which said: "The Chornobyl disaster was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Moscow, in violation of safety protocols, and followed by lies and cover-ups. To this day, the world has to face consequences brought by a totalitarian system that subordinated truth and science to ideology and political power."
The Jerusalem Post reported that Ukraine's foreign ministry said the disaster "was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Moscow, in violation of safety protocols, and followed by lies and cover-ups," and that "the world has to face consequences brought by a totalitarian system that subordinated truth and science to ideology and political power." This statement was not mentioned in BBC's coverage.
The Guardian's reporting also included details on the plant's current state, noting that the new safe confinement shelter (NSC) – a massive steel structure completed in 2019 – was damaged in a drone strike on 14 February 2025. The Jerusalem Post similarly reported that the strike punctured the hermetic seal of the protective shield.
Key claims
The Chernobyl nuclear accident occurred on 26 April 1986, with reactor number 4 exploding and spewing radioactive material across Europe, as reported by BBC and The Guardian. The official death toll from the incident is contested; BBC reported an official toll of 31, while The Guardian cited 28 immediate deaths. A 2005 study by several UN agencies concluded that 4,000 people could die as a result of the accident, according to BBC.
The Guardian provided detailed information on the February 2025 drone strike: it punched a 15 square metre hole through the NSC's outer and inner walls, destroying two key systems – the confinement function and the humidity control system. The strike was carried out by a cheap Russian drone, which The Guardian described as costing $20,000. The Guardian reported that a full repair is required within four years to guarantee the NSC's 100-year lifespan, with estimated costs up to €500 million. The Jerusalem Post also noted that the shield needs at least 500 million euros worth of repairs to prevent permanent damage.
Kyiv says Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones on a flight path near the plant to attack Ukrainian cities, as reported by both The Jerusalem Post and The Guardian. This has raised fears that the ongoing war could trigger another nuclear disaster, with the Jerusalem Post noting that the anniversary has "taken on sharp new meaning" during Russia's invasion.
The Guardian reported that the NSC was designed to protect the world from the reactor's remains, including 180 tonnes of nuclear fuel and significant radioactive dust. The structure, which was funded by 45 countries at a cost of $2.5bn, was not built to withstand a war, and the plant was occupied in the first weeks of Russia's 2022 invasion.