The Day of the Chernobyl disaster, which became the day of the largest man-made catastrophe of the twentieth century in scale and consequences, recedes further into history. However, every year on April 26, we remember those who died in this disaster and express our gratitude to those who fought the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. For us, this is not just a page of history, but a vivid reminder of the price of error: "peaceful atom" virtually destroyed vast territories, turned fertile lands into a zone of desolation, brought pain and suffering to people. Today, our duty is not just to remember the Chernobyl tragedy, but to do everything necessary to prevent such an event from happening again.

The Republic of Belarus suffered more than others from the consequences of the accident, yet we did not abandon our lands – work on eliminating the consequences and restoring contaminated territories continues on the lands affected by the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

While the world was discussing the causes and perpetrators of the Chernobyl disaster, Belarus fought its consequences almost single-handedly. And it endured!

Colossal efforts and resources were invested in the measures to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster!

Our President, Aleksandr Lukashenko, annually visits the regions of the country affected by the Chernobyl NPP accident and personally oversees the implementation of state programs to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP accident.

Since 1990, five such programs have been implemented in our country, and the implementation of the sixth will be completed this year. The program provides for the fulfillment of several tasks at once: ensuring social protection, providing medical care, sanatorium-resort treatment and rehabilitation of the affected population, ensuring radiation protection, promoting the socio-economic development of the affected regions, and more.

We, Belarusians, have not forgotten those who saved millions of lives at the cost of their own!

We honor the bright memory of the courage of all participants in the Chernobyl disaster cleanup: firefighters, military personnel, medics, as well as representatives of other professions – all of them, risking their lives and health, did everything possible to minimize the consequences of the disaster and save humanity."

"Zarya"