Chernobyl disaster: 25 years later

It's early morning on April 26 in Kiev, Ukraine, where the Chernobyl nuclear disaster happened exactly a quarter century ago. On this day in 1986, reactor number four at the plant exploded, setting off a catastrophe that still reverberates far beyond the 30-kilometer exclusion zone.

According to official data, more than 30 people died on the spot on that day from radiation and in general over 5 million people were injured. More than 3,000 people from Armenia and 220,000 from other USSR states rushed to help liquidate consequences of the Chernobyl accident.

Today Ukrainian capital Kiev is commemorating the victims of the nuclear accident.

The commemoration events started on April 26th at 01.23 am, the exact time the plant’s fourth reactor exploded in 1986. This year the Russian Orthodox Church primate will be attending mourning ceremonies for the Chernobyl victims along with clean-up workers and the victims’ relatives.