Chernobyl at 40

The anniversary was observed with somber ceremonies in Slavutych, where candles were placed on radiation symbols to honor those who cleaned up the 1986 disaster.

President Zelensky used the occasion to warn that Russia's ongoing military actions near nuclear facilities could lead to a repeat of the world's worst atomic accident.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi attended a special conference in Chernobyl, emphasizing the critical need for safety protocols amid the five-year-old invasion.

Meanwhile, newly released documents from the Stasi archives have shed light on the extent of Soviet misinformation following the original explosion.