Aftermath of the Accident at Chernobyl
The explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) in 1986 was the worst accident in the history of nuclear power and the largest man-made disaster of the 20th century.
View of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (20th century) by V. RepikUNESCO Memory of the World
Why Was the Disaster at Chernobyl Significant?
The disaster at the 4th unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) happened on April 26, 1986 in Ukraine. It’s widely regarded as the worst accident in the history of nuclear power and the largest man-made disaster of the 20th century.
Tap to explore
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine
Dosimter with radiation background readings (20th century) by V. Repik, V. SamokhotskyUNESCO Memory of the World
Dangerously High Radiation Readings
Core explosions and open-air fires were caused by a catastrophic power increase. This resulted in large quantities of radioactive materials and airborne isotopes to disperse in the atmosphere and surrounding countries.
Dosimetric post (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
Cars Needed to Be Checked for Radiation
The Chernobyl reactor exploded a short distance away from the Soviet town of Pripyat in the Kiev Oblast (region) near the border of Belarus and had an immediate impact on Ukraine, Belarus, and West Russia.
Construction of a shelter over the 4th power unit (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
A Shelter Built for Radioactive Containment and Protection
“The Chernobyl disaster unleashed the largest uncontrolled radioactive release into the environment ever recorded for any civilian operation. For the following ten days, the air was quickly filled with lethal radioactive substances.” International Chernobyl Remembrance Day
A meeting to mark the completion of the shelter (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
Europe Was Contaminated as Well
Global impact of the disaster measured not only by the amount of the countries, covered by radioactive cloud. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 7,722 square miles (20,000 square kilometres) of Europe were contaminated.
Checkpoint in the village Dyiatky (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
A Radioactive Cloud Was Spread by Dust and Debris
“Most of the released material was deposited close by as dust and debris, but the lighter material was carried by wind over Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and to some extent over Scandinavia and Europe.” World Nuclear Association
Military officers and traffic police (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
Disaster Effected Many Spheres of Life
Different times actualize different aspects of the disaster in social, political, economic, medical, ecological, psychological, and moral spheres. Events and aftermath are so broad and multifaceted that even years afterward they're still not fully realized.
Victims from Narodychi (1986) by A. KolesnykUNESCO Memory of the World
Victims Had to Be Evacuated
It resulted in the large-scale relocation, accommodation, employment, and social security of people evacuated from the zone of radioactive contamination.
A group of liquidators (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
Scientists Were Called In to Access the Damage and Help
The experience of overcoming the aftermath of this man-made disaster involved the active participation of scientists in various disciplines, who provided important material for research in medicine, physics, biology, ecology, etc.
Highway directional signs (20th century)UNESCO Memory of the World
People Needed to Stay Out of the Exclusion Zones
The site of the disaster at the 4th unit is now within a large restricted area known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, 30 km (19 miles) in all directions around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that was most contaminated by the accident.
Auto graveyard in the Ilovnytsa village (20th century) by A. KolesnykUNESCO Memory of the World
Auto Graveyard Shows How Quickly the Area Was Abandoned
The archives of the Chernobyl disaster, housed at the State Archives of Ukraine - created in the Soviet Union and declassified by Ukraine, are crucial for understanding the disaster’s nature and its socio-political impact; such as its building and development, the accident’s initial handling, and aftermath.
Children from Nozdrysche village (20th century) by V.ZufarovUNESCO Memory of the World
Emotional Damage and Stress Was Ongoing
The introduction of documentary heritage about the accident caused strong emotional reactions from Ukrainians by bringing up emotional memories of those killed, injured, and contaminated as well as the stress that people experienced in the first weeks after the tragedy.
Documentary Heritage Related to accident at Chernobyl (20th century) by Pshenychnyi Central State FilmUNESCO Memory of the World
