April 26, 1986 is a date that forever entered the history of mankind as the day of one of the largest technological disasters. Its consequences still make themselves felt not only in the territory adjacent to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but also in Eastern Europe. Affected nature, which began to recover dozens of years later, hundreds of ruined human lives, thousands of those who left their homes, and no less than those whose health was seriously and irreversibly undermined by radiation.
In memory of this tragedy, they shot films and television shows, wrote books, composed numerous poems and songs, erected monuments to Chernobyl victims. In Chernobyl, more than 600 thousand people took part in the liquidation of the accident. Monuments will be discussed in the article.
Historical reference
A little over thirty years ago, on the night of April 26, one of the largest accidents in the entire history of the use of atomic electricity occurred. Due to the uncontrolled increase in power of the fourth generator put into operation less than three years ago, an explosion occurred after midnight. Despite the measures taken in time to reduce the amount of radiation (it is worth noting that for a short time it helped), the amount of radioactive substances released into the air only grew, and it was possible to talk about their reduction only two weeks after the accident itself. Complicating the situation was the fact that the discarded substances were carried by air over great distances.
The effects of environmental pollution by radiation have been stretched over time. Immediately after the accident, 31 people died, 600 thousand people involved in the liquidation of the accident received high radiation doses, 404 thousand people were forced to leave their belongings, houses, apartments and move as far as possible from the dangerous area. Land that was used in agriculture was affected, many hectares became unsuitable for growing useful crops on them.
At the same time, after the construction of the "sarcophagus" for the fourth unit of the station was completed, six months after the accident, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant began to gradually resume its work. But ten years later, the first unit was decommissioned. In 2000, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant finally ceased to function.
April 26 is a day of remembrance for those killed in radiation accidents and disasters. These days, people around the world come to the monuments and light hundreds of candles.
Chernobyl Glory Memorial to the Chernobyl Accident Disaster Relief Participants in Donetsk
The Chernobyl Glory Memorial was erected in Donetsk in 2006 on April 26th. This is one of the most famous and largest monuments to Chernobyl victims, which was erected twenty years after the accident in memory of the thousands of Donetsk residents who took part in the elimination of the consequences. It is a bell that embodies the call to always remember what happened and to prevent such a catastrophe in the future. On one side of the monument a mosaic is laid out with an icon called the “Chernobyl Spas”.
Monument to Chernobyl victims in Bryansk
Like his Donetsk counterpart, the monument in Bryansk was erected on the anniversary of the accident at the power plant in 2006. Earlier, local authorities announced a competition, the winner of which was the sculptor Alexander Romashevsky, whose project was implemented. The monument to Chernobyl authorship by Romashevsky is a huge globe reminiscent of the Earth, on one side of which approximately at the location of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant there is a deep crack (the lights turn on at night and cold, dim light pours from the crack).
Every year on April 26, residents of the city come to the site itself. Here they light candles that are placed around the monument. Yes, and on ordinary days there are a lot of people around the memorial; a small square is set up around the monument where local residents like to spend time.
Monument in Rostov
This memorial dedicated to the feat of the liquidators is considered the largest in Russia. The central figure of the old composition was a two-meter bronze liquidator breaking through the fire. The current Chernobyl man is five meters tall. The man depicted in bronze steps over a fire escaping from the ground under his feet. Many find this fact symbolic, considering the burning planet under their feet a symbol of disaster, which mankind managed to avoid thanks to the dedication of those who were involved in measures to eliminate the consequences of the explosion.
Monument in the Minsk region
The monument to Chernobyl victims opened near Minsk relatively recently - in April 2011, on the eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. This memorial can be called truly popular. It was built on the money raised, including the money of the military unit, which at one time took part in the aftermath of the Chernobyl explosion. In addition, a memorial plaque was opened directly in Minsk and a memorial sign was installed.
The whole world will forever remember the tragedy that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. April 26, on the day of the memory of victims of radiation accidents, people come to the memorials to thank the liquidators for their saved lives.