The United Nations General Assembly in New York has supported a resolution initiated by Ukraine and a group of states entitled “Strengthening international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.” The document was supported by 97 UN Member States, with 8 voting against and 39 abstaining.
The resolution emphasizes that the damage to the New Safe Confinement over the destroyed Chornobyl NPP Unit 4 on 14 February 2025, caused by a Russian drone attack, “has jeopardized decades of international progress in ensuring the safety of the site.”
The General Assembly called on Member States and international partners to continue cooperation with Ukraine to guarantee the safety of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and to address the environmental, social, and humanitarian consequences of the disaster.
The resolution also provides for the transition to the Ukrainian transliteration of the name — Chornobyl instead of Chernobyl — including in the official title of the International Day of Remembrance of the Chornobyl Disaster, observed annually on 26 April.
In addition, the UN General Assembly decided to hold a special session on 24 April 2026 dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident.
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine welcomes the adoption of the resolution and expresses its gratitude to all partners who support Ukraine’s efforts to ensure the safety of the Exclusion Zone and to preserve the memory of the tragedy.
