On 26 April 1986, Chernobyl Reactor 4 exploded, releasing radioactive material across Ukraine and much of Europe.
The fallout saw vast quantities of radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus, and much of Europe, contaminating millions of square kilometres and forcing the evacuation of entire communities, most famously Pripyat.
Today on the 40th anniversary of the disaster, it also serves as a present day reminder of the real threat Russia’s aggression poises to its future.
I saw that firsthand on a recent cross party parliamentary visit to Ukraine where we had special permission to visit inside the huge covered structure protecting the sarcophagus covering Reactor 4, where we observed the damaged caused by a Russian drone attack a year earlier.
Should an attack disrupt the concrete sealed structure covering the reactor it could see over a hundred tonnes of nuclear fuel released into the air over a vast area.
It was quite an experience to feel the history of the site, but also to be reminded that no where is safe from attack for as long as Putins illegal war persists.
Slava Ukraini.
There is an interesting article on this from the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/25/chornobyl-power-plant-at-risk-amid-russia-war-ukraine
Jim McMahon OBE MP 