April 26, 1986 - a date that forever entered the history of mankind as the day of one of the largest man-made disasters. Its consequences still make themselves felt not only in the territory adjacent to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but also in Eastern Europe. Affected nature, which began restoration after decades, hundreds of ruined human lives, thousands of those who left their homes, and no less than those whose he alth was seriously and irreversibly crippled due to radiation.
In memory of this tragedy, films and television programs were shot, books were written, numerous poems and songs were composed, and monuments to Chernobyl victims were erected. In Chernobyl, more than 600 thousand people took part in the liquidation of the accident. Monuments will be discussed in the article.
Historical background
A little over thirty years ago, on the night of April 26, one of the largest accidents in the history of the use of nuclear electricity occurred. Due to the uncontrolled increase in power of the fourth generator, put into operation less than three years ago, an explosion occurred after midnight. Despite the timelymeasures designed to reduce the amount of radiation (it is worth noting that this helped for a short time), the amount of radioactive substances released into the air only grew, and it was possible to talk about their decrease only two weeks after the accident itself. The situation was also complicated by the fact that the emitted substances were carried by air over great distances.
The consequences of environmental pollution by radiation have been extended over time. Immediately after the accident, 31 people died, 600,000 people involved in the liquidation of the accident received high doses of radiation, 404,000 people were forced to abandon their belongings, houses, apartments and move as far as possible from the dangerous area. Agricultural lands were damaged, many hectares became unsuitable for growing useful crops.
At the same time, after the construction of the "sarcophagus" for the fourth block of the station, six months after the accident, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant began to gradually resume its work. But ten years later, the first block was decommissioned. In 2000, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant finally stopped functioning.
April 26 is the day of remembrance for those killed in radiation accidents and catastrophes. These days, people around the world come to monuments and light hundreds of candles.
Chernobyl Glory Memorial to the participants in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident in Donetsk
The Chernobyl Glory Memorial was erected in Donetsk on April 26, 2006. This is one ofthe most famous and largest monument to Chernobyl victims, which was erected twenty years after the accident in memory of the thousands of Donetsk residents who took part in the aftermath. It is a bell, which personifies the call to always remember what happened and prevent such a catastrophe in the future. On one side of the monument, an icon is laid out in mosaic, which is called the "Chernobyl Spas".
Monument to the Chernobyl victims in Bryansk
Like its Donetsk counterpart, the monument in Bryansk was erected on the anniversary of the 2006 power plant accident. Earlier, local authorities announced a competition, the winner of which was the sculptor Alexander Romashevsky, whose project was brought to life. The monument to Chernobyl victims by Romashevsky is a huge ball resembling the Earth, on one side of which, approximately at the location of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, a deep crack gapes (at night, the backlight turns on, and cold dim light pours from the crack).
Every year on April 26, residents of the city come to the site itself on Memorial Day. Candles are lit here and placed around the monument. And on ordinary days, there are quite a lot of people near the memorial, a small square is laid out around the monument, where local residents like to spend time.
Monument in Rostov
This memorial, dedicated to the feat of the liquidators, is considered the largest in Russia. The central figure of the old composition was a two-meter bronze liquidator breaking throughthrough fire. The current Chernobyl is five meters tall. Depicted in bronze, a man steps over the fire that breaks out of the ground under his feet. Many find this fact symbolic, considering the burning planet under their feet a symbol of the catastrophe that humanity managed to avoid thanks to the dedication of those involved in the aftermath of the explosion.
Monument in Minsk region
The monument to Chernobyl victims was opened near Minsk relatively recently - in April 2011, on the eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. This memorial can be called truly folk. It was built with the money raised, including the money of the military unit that at one time took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In addition, a memorial plaque was opened directly in Minsk and a memorial sign was installed.
The whole world will forever remember the tragedy that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. On April 26, the day of remembrance for the victims of radiation accidents, people come to the memorials to thank the liquidators for saving lives.
