April 26, 2023. OTTAWA, ON. Today, the world commemorates the 37th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) asks all Canadians to pause today in remembrance of the victims of this terrible tragedy.
On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant near Prypyat, Ukraine, exploded and melted down. The disaster affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, with the effect still being felt today.
Estimates on the number of indirect deaths resulting from the Chornobyl disaster range from the thousands to the tens of thousands. The effects of the disaster were made far worse by the Soviet Communist regime’s obfuscations, lies and attempts to cover up the scale of the disaster from the world.
For over a year, Russia has been waging a genocidal war against Ukraine, attempting to destroy the Ukrainian state and annihilate the Ukrainian people.
Among the litany of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the invading Russian armies are attacks on and shelling of nuclear power plants in Ukraine. These Russian attacks are acts of nuclear terrorism that threaten the entire world with nuclear disaster and unimaginable devastation.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls on Canada and our allies to urgently provide to Ukraine all necessary weapons to defeat the invading Russian armies. Russia – a criminal, terrorist state – must be isolated from the international community.
We mourn the thousands of victims of the Chornobyl disaster. We pray for the health of those whose lives are still affected by Chornobyl.
May the Memory of the Victims Be Eternal. Вічная Пам’ять.
