People around the world took to the streets to honor the memory of the Chernobyl victims and put an end to russia’s current nuclear terror
On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, Ukrainians took to the streets in protests around the world. The initiative “Save All Living Things. Stop the russian Nuclear War Machine – Sanction Rosatom” was organized by UAnimals and the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) in partnership with the Ukrainian Community Army, the Ukrainian World Congress, and local organizations in various countries.
People in Paris, Oslo, Austin, Warsaw, Stockholm, Sydney, Linköping, Plovdiv, Tokyo, Edinburgh, and Vilnius honored the memory of the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy. Life-size black silhouettes of people and animals were installed alongside the participants. These figures serve as a silent reminder that radiation does not check passports or discriminate. It destroys all life, and its effects last for decades.
The purpose of the rallies is not only to honor the memory of the victims but also to make a specific demand of the international community: to impose sanctions on Rosatom.
“Rosatom is not an energy company. It is a military-industrial complex with a nuclear cover, where 21 entities within the corporation are directly involved in weapons production,” explains Vlada Dumenko, communications director at the International Center for Ukrainian Victory.
As long as the EU continues to purchase russian uranium, this money is converted into drones and missiles flying toward Ukrainian nuclear power plants. In the first four months of 2026 alone, 16 incidents threatening global radiation safety have already been recorded, and since the start of the full-scale invasion, there have been at least 127 such incidents.
We’ve grown accustomed to thinking of Chernobyl as a tragedy of the past, but today history is repeating itself. Since 2022, russia has occupied the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — the largest nuclear power plant in Europe — and is using it as a military shield. When we see russian drones damaging the Chernobyl sarcophagus and missiles flying over nuclear power plants, we realize that the enemy will not stop on its own. That is why it is important to unite and demand the isolation of the nuclear terrorist.
To mark the anniversary, UAnimals also released a video — the narration was provided by writer Yuri Andrukhovych. It addresses the lessons left unlearned and how, 40 years ago, the Soviet — that is, the russian — totalitarian machine allowed the disaster to occur and concealed its true scale from the people and the world.
In the coming days, the wave of protests will continue in London and Helsinki. We urge Ukrainians abroad not to stand on the sidelines. Join us, share the video, and help us spread the truth. Every voice today is a contribution to the safety of all life on the planet.
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