Zelenskyy marks Chernobyl anniversary, warns of Russian 'nuclear terrorism'

On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a stark parallel between the 1986 nuclear catastrophe and Russia's ongoing aggression. Speaking on Facebook, Zelenskyy reminded the world of the devastating consequences of the Chernobyl explosion, emphasizing how hundreds of thousands have dealt with its aftermath for decades. He highlighted the international effort to contain the radiation with the sarcophagus built over the destroyed reactor, noting that over 40 countries contributed to its sealing.

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Hace cuarenta años, el mundo se enfrentó a uno de los peores desastres nucleares: la explosión del cuarto reactor de la central nuclear de Chernóbil. Se liberó una cantidad significativa de material radiactivo al medio ambiente. Cientos de miles de personas han estado lidiando con las consecuencias de esa tragedia durante años

Zelenskyy then pivoted to the present threat, accusing Russia of pushing the world to the brink of another man-made atomic disaster through its war. He specifically mentioned the presence of Shahed drones flying over the old nuclear power plant and one crashing into the sarcophagus last year. For Ukraine, this is not just a historical commemoration but a chilling reminder of the constant danger posed by Russian actions near nuclear facilities, particularly the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under Russian occupation.

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Estas dos estructuras son las que protegen contra las fugas de radiación y la contaminación. Su mantenimiento y protección redundan en beneficio de todos. Pero con su guerra, Rusia vuelve a poner al mundo al borde de un desastre provocado por el hombre

The President's message serves as a powerful appeal to the international community, urging them to stop Russia's "senseless attacks" and prevent further "nuclear terrorism." He concluded by honoring those who lost their lives in the Chernobyl tragedy, ensuring their memory endures. From Kyiv's perspective, this anniversary is a somber occasion to underscore the existential threat posed by nuclear risks, amplified by Russia's invasion, and to call for global solidarity against such dangers.

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El mundo no debe permitir que este terrorismo nuclear continúe, y la mejor manera de lograrlo es obligar a Rusia a detener sus ataques insensatos