HISTORY
HISTORY

In the early hours of April 26, 1986, a group of workers at the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine proceeded to carry out an experiment which would test the security systems of the station.
The experiment was to shut down the automatic power setting of the fourth unit of the station along with the safety systems, allowing however the fourth reactor of the station to operate at 7% of its power.
Around 12:30 in the morning, a chain reaction in the fourth reactor caused a series of explosions, which destroyed its steel cover, weighing a thousand tons. From that moment on, huge quantities of radioactive material were released into the air and spread rapidly to the surrounding areas.
Also read: June 22, 1941 | Operation Barbarossa, the largest military invasion in history
Two days later, on April 28, Swedish observatories began recording high levels of radioactivity and demanded an explanation from the Soviet Union. Initially, the Soviet government tried to cover up the incident, but the situation was out of control, forcing it to admit that there was a “minor accident”.
For ten consecutive days, flammable nuclear fuels and millions of radioactive elements were released into the atmosphere. It is estimated that the amount of nuclear elements released into the atmosphere is equivalent to 200 nuclear bombs (such as that of Hiroshima). Radioactive dust spread over Europe, up to the North Pole, and took about 7,000 tonnes of metal and 400,000 cubic meters of Reinforced Concrete to bury the hundreds of tons of nuclear fuel and radioactive debris in a sarcophagus.
The explosion took the lives of 31 people, while since 1986, more than 25,000 soldiers and civilians from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and other former Soviet republics, who had been sent to work at the station, have died.
Also read: May 8, 1945 | Victory Day for Humanity
According to UN data, 8.4 million people from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have been exposed to radioactivity, which had covered 150,000 square kilometers, half the size of Italy. About 400,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, but about 6 million are still living in contaminated areas.
Due to the status of the Soviet Union, there are no clear reasons that led to this tragedy. However, according to the international research findings, a number of chain factors played an important role, such as inadequate reactor safety and protection systems, as well as the mishandling of poorly-trained workers.
The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant “Vladimir Ilyich Lenin” was permanently shut down in December 2000, following international pressure from the Ukrainian government and fears of new explosions in its obsolete reactors.
Also read: The sinking of Wilhelm Gustloff | The story behind the biggest maritime tragedy in the world – VIDEO
With information from: SanSimera.gr
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
The Cypriot Uprising of October 1931 against the British
In October 1931, the Cypriots rose up against the brutal and inhumane treatment of the British, demanding liberation from the oppressive British…
September 2, 1958 | Battle at the Barn of Liopetri – The four EOKA Heroes
The Battle at the Barn of Liopetri, also known as the “New Battle of Gravia”, was fought by EOKA Members Ilias Papakyriakou, Fotis Pitta, Christos Samaras and Andreas Karios, against British colonialism on September 2, 1958…
August 3, 1977 | 45 years since the death of Archbishop Makarios III
Today marks forty-five years since the death of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.
Netherlands | Host of €1 billion NATO fund
The Netherlands will host a new €1 billion NATO fund that will invest in European start-ups developing technology with potential military…
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Acceptance of Greece’s request for observer status in the Caribbean Community
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) accepted on Friday, March 17, 2023, the Greek request for Greece’s participation in CARICOM as…
The new Second Lieutenants Anna Korakaki and Miltos Tentoglou
By a joint decision of the Minister of Defence, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and the Deputy Minister of Sports, Lefteris Avgenakis, all athletes…
EDA | Collaborative Procurement of Ammunition by EU Member-States
Eighteen states signed on Monday the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to…
Iran – Iraq | Sign agreement on “border protection”
Ali Shamkhani, a top official of Iranian Security, signed an agreement the day before yesterday in Baghdad to “protect the borders” of…
Skopje | Confirms delivery of Su-25 fighters to Ukraine
Skopje finally proceeded with the delivery of Su-25 close air support fighter jets to Ukraine, according to the country’s Defence Minister…
0 Comments