A multimedia art and technology exhibition titled “Chornobyl: 40 Years On. A Story That Obliges” has opened in Kyiv, marking the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
The opening ceremony was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Andriy Pyshnyy, representatives of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, the Chornobyl NPP, and other stakeholders.
“Chornobyl has become a difficult but essential lesson for the world. Ukraine has drawn conclusions from this tragedy; however, russia continues to demonstrate complete disregard for these lessons, engaging in nuclear blackmail and posing a threat to the security of the European continent, including the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, attacks on facilities within the exclusion zone, and systematic strikes on critical infrastructure. This is evidence of a deliberate policy of nuclear terror,” Denys Shmyhal emphasized in his address.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to ликвідатори, Chornobyl NPP personnel, emergency responders, and all those involved in organizing the exhibition. He further acknowledged the contribution of the National Bank of Ukraine to preserving the memory of the tragedy, including the issuance of a commemorative coin marking the 40th anniversary. Concluding his remarks, Denys Shmyhal stressed the importance of ensuring that the lessons of Chornobyl are never forgotten so as to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As part of the event, the National Bank of Ukraine officially presented a commemorative coin titled “To Those Who Saved the World”, dedicated to firefighters and liquidators of the disaster. According to Andriy Pyshnyy, the concept of the coin was carefully developed to reflect both the passage of forty years and the ongoing risks faced by Ukraine amid the full-scale war.
“On the one hand, this coin serves as a reminder that such tragedies must never be repeated. Millions of Ukrainians carry memories of the period following 26 April 1986—memories that should not be inherited by future generations. Another symbolic purpose of the coin is to express gratitude to all the liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster, who became a shield for the country. ‘To Those Who Saved the World’—this is how we named the coin. The title also echoes the monument erected in Chornobyl in honour of the firefighters who were the first to confront the disaster. Ukrainians will remember their dedication and the pain that swept across the nation,” Andriy Pyshnyy stated.
The inscriptions “Chorno” and “Bil” on the coin highlight the profound emotional dimension of the Chornobyl tragedy.
Following the official ceremony, guided tours were conducted for visitors, introducing them to three thematic halls dedicated to the past, present, and future of Chornobyl.
- The “Light That Did Not Fade” hall presents the history of the disaster, the city of Pripyat, artefacts from the Chornobyl NPP, artistic and photographic exhibitions, as well as memorial installations dedicated to the liquidators.
- The “Light That Works” hall focuses on the current activities within the exclusion zone, including the history of the Shelter объект and the New Safe Confinement, international cooperation, and contemporary nuclear safety challenges.
- The “Light of the Future” hall showcases modern emergency response technologies, robotics, engineering solutions, and visualizations of future changes in radiation levels, as well as lessons learned from past nuclear accidents.
