Ukrainian city gathers for midnight Chernobyl vigil 40 years later

Key Points:

• Residents of Slavutych, Ukraine, gathered in the central square for a midnight vigil commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, honoring those killed and the liquidators who risked radiation exposure to contain the aftermath.
• Despite wartime curfews and warnings against large gatherings amid Russia’s war on Ukraine, people of all ages came together, reflecting the ongoing significance of the disaster and its impact on the community.
• The city of Slavutych was established after the 1986 disaster to house Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers and their families, and it has since endured Russian occupation and harsh conditions during the current conflict.
• Attendees expressed concerns about renewed dangers following a 2025 Russian drone strike that damaged the New Safe Confinement structure over the destroyed reactor, underscoring fears about the persistence of radiation risks.
• The vigil included symbolic acts such as participants dressed as liquidators holding candles, poetry recitations about the disaster, and reflections on the lasting pain and displacement caused by Chernobyl, especially amid ongoing war restrictions.