On May 6, 2026, an offsite meeting of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Presidium of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine was held at the industrial site of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, current challenges in the field of nuclear and radiation safety, as well as prospects for the development of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
The meeting was opened by the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Zahorodniy.
“Forty years have passed since the accident that fundamentally changed approaches to the development of nuclear energy, formed a new culture of nuclear safety, and became a harsh lesson for the whole world. At the same time, Chernobyl is a symbol of courage, professionalism, and self-sacrifice of those who stopped the development of the catastrophe at the cost of their own lives and health,” emphasized academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Zahorodniy. “In the conditions of Russian armed aggression, issues of nuclear safety acquire special significance and rise to the level of global challenges. That is why the role of science, its expert potential, and responsibility today are more important than ever.”
As the head of the NAS of Ukraine recalled, the Academy was at the center of overcoming the consequences of the accident from the very first days. Scientists assessed the radiation situation, developed technical solutions, created control and protection systems, and today the institutions of the NAS of Ukraine provide scientific support for the status of the “Shelter” object, the operation of the New Safe Confinement, and the decommissioning processes of the Chernobyl NPP. According to Anatoliy Zahorodniy, overcoming the socio-economic, humanitarian, environmental, and technical consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, and developing nuclear energy is possible only through consolidated efforts of science, industry, and the state.
At the end of his report, the President of the NAS of Ukraine presented honorary certificates from the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine and the Central Committee of the Trade Union of NAS of Ukraine workers to employees of the State Specialized Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP” who participated in the liquidation of the accident’s consequences. “Today it is a great honor for us to express our sincere gratitude and deep respect to you. It is precisely thanks to your courage, self-sacrifice, and high professionalism that it was possible to stop the development of the catastrophe and protect millions of people from even more severe consequences. You fulfilled your duty under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, often risking your own life and health. Your feat will forever remain an example of responsibility, strength of spirit, and service to society. We bow deeply to you and sincerely thank you. I wish you and your families good health, prosperity, and peace,” said the head of the Academy addressing the liquidators of the largest man-made disaster on the planet.
Next, the attendees listened to two main reports.
On the topic “The National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster: experience, lessons, conclusions, guidelines for the future”, spoke the President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, academician of the NAS and NAMSU Vasyl Lazoryshynets.
The report “Chernobyl: 40 years in a row. From Disaster to Revival, from Fear to Facts. Historical overview and vision for the future” was delivered by the Director of the Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Nosovskyi.
During the discussion, participants paid special attention to the role of science in ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, the implementation of modern technologies, and the formation of new approaches to using the potential of the exclusion zone. They emphasized that the scientific and technical experience accumulated in the Chernobyl zone should become the basis for the development of modern nuclear technologies and strengthening the state's energy security.
At the meeting, the following spoke:
- Acting Head of the State Agency of Ukraine on the Management of the Exclusion Zone Volodymyr Feschenko;
- Acting Chairman of the Board of JSC “NAEK “Energoatom” Pavlo Kovtonyuk;
- Head of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society Volodymyr Kholosha;
- General Director of the State Specialized Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP” Serhiy Tarakanov;
- First Deputy General Director of the National Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology of NAMSU, Corresponding Member of NAMSU Viktor Sushko;
- Deputy Director of the Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine Viktor Krasnov;
- Chairman of the National Commission for Radiation Protection of the Population of Ukraine, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Oleksandr Kopylenko.
The speakers touched on issues such as experience in overcoming the consequences of the accident, the current state of the Chernobyl NPP, problems of its decommissioning, handling of radioactive materials, and long-term medical consequences of the accident for the population.
Then the Director of the Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Nosovskyi, presented a commemorative medal dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident to representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, and employees of the State Specialized Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP.”
Within the framework of the meeting, the following were also signed:
- A General Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the Joint Stock Company “National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom”” and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;
- A joint decision of the NAS of Ukraine and the State Agency of Ukraine on the Management of the Exclusion Zone regarding entrusting the Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine with the functions of organization (scientific supervisor) for ensuring the safe operation of the New Safe Confinement complex and the “Shelter” object, transforming the “Shelter” object into an environmentally safe system, and decommissioning the power units of the Chernobyl NPP;
- An Agreement on scientific and technical cooperation between the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and the State Specialized Enterprise “Chernobyl NPP.”
Following the meeting, participants adopted a joint decision on the need for further consolidation of efforts of scientific institutions, state bodies, and enterprises of the nuclear energy complex in matters of developing the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, enhancing nuclear and radiation safety, as well as scientific and technical support for work at the Chernobyl NPP site.
“Today's meeting confirmed that the accident at the Chernobyl NPP remains not only a tragic historical event but also a powerful factor in shaping modern state policy in the field of nuclear and radiation safety,” noted in his concluding remarks the President of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Zahorodniy. In his opinion, the important documents signed within the meeting create a foundation for the development of systematic interaction between science, state bodies, and the energy sector. “At the same time, we must ensure further deepening of cooperation both nationally and internationally. The Chernobyl topic has long gone beyond internal issues and is a component of the global agenda in the field of nuclear safety. In this context, the development of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the European Commission, leading scientific centers of the world, as well as active participation of Ukrainian institutions in international research programs and projects, is important. Ukraine has unique experience in overcoming the consequences of a nuclear disaster, and this experience must be integrated into the international nuclear safety system. In the conditions of Russian armed aggression, these issues acquire special importance and require a consolidated position of the international community. We must consistently convey to the world the inadmissibility of using nuclear facilities as a tool of pressure and threat,” emphasized the head of the NAS of Ukraine, thanking all speakers and participants for their substantive presentations and constructive proposals and assuring that the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine will continue to provide scientific support for the development of Ukraine’s nuclear energy complex, promote its safety enhancement, and integration into the global scientific space.
On the same day, the leadership of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, headed by the President of the Academy, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Anatoliy Zahorodniy, the First Vice-President of the Academy, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vyacheslav Bohdanov, and the academic secretary of the Department of Energy and Energy Technologies of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Andriy Rusanov, visited the Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine in Chernobyl.
According to information from the Department of Energy and Energy Technologies of the NAS of Ukraine
and the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the NAS of Ukraine
Photo: Institute of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Problems of the NAS of Ukraine
and Oleksiy Dorofeyev
