For our country, the date of April 26th is forever colored with sorrow and deep memory. Exactly 40 years ago, the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred, changing the destinies of millions of people and leaving a deep scar on Belarusian soil. On this day, we not only remember the unprecedented courage of the liquidators who saved the world from the global radiation threat but also reflect on the enormous journey our republic is still undertaking to restore the affected territories.
History of the Event
The history of nuclear energy is forever divided into two periods: before April 26, 1986, and after. On this day, at 1:23 a.m., two powerful explosions occurred at Unit 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, completely destroying the reactor core. This accident became the largest man-made disaster in world history, both in its scale and in the tragic consequences it caused.
The immediate cause of the disaster was an experiment on one of the turbogenerators. As a result, a large dose of radiation was released into the atmosphere, covering vast areas. The true scale of the tragedy was not immediately understood, but thanks to the unprecedented heroism and dedication of the people, the consequences were brought under control.
Firefighters and paramedics who arrived at the plant immediately after the accident were the first to bear the brunt. In total, more than 600,000 people participated in the cleanup: engineers, construction workers, military personnel, doctors, and physicists. Risking their own lives and health, they erected a "Shelter" around the destroyed reactor—a sarcophagus that isolated the source of radiation.
Today, a 30-kilometer exclusion zone remains around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. April 26 will forever remain in the memory of generations as a day of deep sorrow and immeasurable gratitude to the liquidators who saved the world from even greater consequences.
Overcoming the Consequences of the Accident in the Republic of Belarus
Belarus suffered more than any other country from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Almost a quarter of the country's territory was contaminated with radionuclides. As a result of the tragedy, 479 settlements ceased to exist.
While the world debated the causes of the disaster, our country invested enormous resources to minimize its consequences. Over four decades, Belarus has traveled a complex path: from emergency response and rehabilitation of the affected areas to the transition to sustainable socio-economic development.
Social protection of the population has become a key priority of state policy: more than half of allocated funds are directed toward medical care, spa treatment, and health improvement. Thanks to the implemented measures, contaminated areas are being returned to normal life, including the gradual return of land to agricultural use under strict radiological control.
BNTU on this day
The Belarusian National Technical University places great emphasis on preserving the memory of the tragic events and lessons of the Chernobyl disaster. Every year, in the lead-up to April 26, the university hosts a series of events.
Requiem rallies and flower-laying ceremonies are an important part of these days. Students, faculty, and the administration of the university and its branches pay tribute to the heroic deeds of the liquidators. Traditionally, BNTU representatives take part in memorial events in Friendship of Peoples Park, laying wreaths and flowers at the iconic memorials—the "Akhvyars of Charnobyl" and the "Peace Stone of Hiroshima."
Extensive educational outreach is also conducted. Faculties organize joint information days, mentoring hours, and open dialogue platforms on this topic. Government officials and direct liquidators of the Chernobyl accident interact with students as invited experts, sharing their personal memories. During these meetings, young people discuss not only radiation safety regulations but also the government's efforts to restore the affected regions.
Furthermore, the BNTU Scientific Library regularly organizes thematic book exhibitions, and the university's repository collects relevant works by faculty and students.
By preserving the memory of past events, the university instills in the next generation of engineers a profound sense of responsibility for the well-being and security of their home country.
