How the Chornobyl plant survived the occupation

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What happened at Chornobyl and Slavutych during the occupation
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Photo: uk.wikipedia.org
16:41, 26.04.2022

On April 26, Ukraine traditionally commemorates the victims of the Chornobyl tragedy. However, this year the risk of another disaster seems more real than ever.



Russia, having attacked Ukraine, not only regularly threatens to use nuclear weapons but also seizes nuclear power plants. At the beginning of the war, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was under occupation and the largest Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant in Europe. The city of Slavutich, where the families of Chornobyl workers live, was tried by Russian troops to storm for three days, after which it was occupied on March 26. After the defeat near Kyiv, the invaders left the Exclusion Zone and Slavutych. But the Zaporizhzhia station, located in the country's south, remains under occupation for the time being. On the night of April 26, two Russian missiles flew over it. They were recorded at a low altitude directly above seven nuclear installations, Energoatom reports. Ukraine unambiguously regards capturing atomic power plants and hostilities near nuclear power plants as nuclear terrorism.

Gintaria Padun, an activist of the Chornobyl Youth Organization and the Atom Trade Union, who lives in Slavutych, told Socportal about how Ukrainian nuclear scientists celebrate the anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, why the Russians went to Chornobyl and how the city of Slavutych survived under occupation.

How the anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy is celebrated this year

Honoring the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 2022 in the city of Slavutych
Honoring the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 2022 in the city of Slavutych Photo: Gintaria Padun

On the night of April 25-26, we in Slavutich always celebrate the anniversary of the Chornobyl accident (the city was built after the accident, and nuclear workers from Chornobyl and Pripyat were relocated to it - ed.). Usually, the events were held at night (the accident happened at half past two in the night, - ed.), we had a guard of honor, people laid flowers, put lamps, and there was a minute of silence. This year without a guard. Just a moment of silence. Terroborona was warned that people would come out to put flowers and lamps. You can't forbid this to people, such a date ... On the Chornobyl nuclear power plant's territory, shift workers and veterans lay flowers at the monuments. But no significant events.

What happened at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant during the occupation

The zone borders Belarus, and it was possible to transport equipment in a stream. And this is an additional opportunity to advance in Kyiv through the Ivankovsky district.

Many of our soldiers who were at the station are now in captivity. There was information that they were in Russia in Belarus. And the attitude towards them is not good, with violations of the Geneva Convention.

When the station was occupied, the first workers who stayed overnight (February 24, the day of the attack - ed.) stayed there for almost a month. This is nearly 600 working hours. No one lets people go for a shift change. Plus, there were very heavy battles in the Ivankovsky district.

The station itself was looted, and a lot was taken out. A very expensive laboratory was looted. They took out computers, in general, everything that is possible. Even the windows and doors have been taken out. People are now trying to restore order independently because they work there. If earlier they traveled through the Dnieper, through Belarus in transit, now they travel through Kyiv entirely along the bypass because the railway bridge has been dismantled, and the road bridge has been blown up.

How did Slavutich survive?

Everyone went to a peaceful protest with the flags of Ukraine with the anthem on the square. A lot of people. Probably, no other holiday in the city came out so much. Both children and adults. The Russian military entered the city with equipment closer to the center. We were able to drive up to the Palace of Children and Youth. People went straight to kick them out. Shouted "Russian ship ..." to children, adults, and everyone who could. They (the Russian military, - ed.) fired into the air and threw stun grenades. During a pro-Ukrainian rally, four people were injured in Slavutych. One of them is currently undergoing treatment abroad.

During the days of the assault on the city, the Russians killed three people. And then another one from the defense was found dead in the woods. People of Russian soldiers were driven out of the city, and they retreated. The mayor of the town, as it was stated, was in their captivity. He then came out with a statement that there would be no invaders in the city. They went to the military registration and enlistment office, and the police walked around the town, went into apartments and cottages, and set up a roadblock. There were hardly any in the city itself. And soon, they were gone.

Before that, there was no electricity in the city for six days. There were power outages in the Ivankovsky district that were restored for a very long time. The Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the Ivankovsky region were occupied, and the Russian military did not allow work to be carried out. When there was no light, people went out to cook outside. The first thing that suffered was freezers. All stocks were taken out into the street, even the weather allowed. And so they cooked everything on fire in the quarters, brought firewood.

Humanitarian aid began to arrive when the situation had already become less acute. Close to Chernihiv, everything was dire; not everything could get there. But people, at their peril and risk, traveled to neighboring villages in buses and bought milk and potatoes that good people gave in the towns. Our Atomprofsoyuz allocates material assistance. We bought food for people; it was all delivered. When it is possible to get there, many funds donate humanitarian aid for children - diapers and so on. But the stores have already begun to deliver everything. Online learning for children has already started. The city is coming back to life.

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Olena Tkalich

Expert on women's rights, persons with disabilities, motherhood in the modern context, health care reform, education and social welfare.