Anton Honchanka, an 11-year-old from Belarus, was evacuated to the UK in 1999 through the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline program following the 1986 nuclear disaster. He fondly recalls his time with host families in Wales, who provided a peaceful and welcoming environment, and expresses a desire to reconnect with them.
Anton Honchanka, an 11-year-old Chernobyl survivor from Belarus, recalls his "new adventure" in the UK in 1999 through the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline program, staying with host families in Wales and finding peace and warmth amidst political turmoil at home.
14-year-old Ethan Vaz becomes India's 96th Grandmaster after securing his third GM norm at the 'Chess Summer in Sarajevo – GM Mix' tournament, overcoming a challenging journey that began after his family relocated from Japan following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Ukrainians commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion in Slavutych, the city built to house those displaced by the 1986 disaster. Participants dressed in white hazmat suits placed candles and flowers at a memorial to victims. Local blogger Olga Shevchenko emphasized that the current war should not diminish the significance of remembering the worst nuclear disaster in civilian history.
At least 16 killed in strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia over the past day, as the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster prompted new warnings about nuclear risks. President Zelensky warned that Russian drone attacks risk repeating history, noting Iran-designed Shahed drones regularly fly over the plant and one struck the confinement structure last year. Strikes in Dnipro killed nine people, while a Ukrainian drone strike on Sevastopol killed one.
At least 16 people killed in strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia. Nine dead in Dnipro drone and missile strikes, three killed in Luhansk region drone attack, one killed in Sevastopol strike, and a woman killed in Belgorod. Attacks occur on 40th anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear disaster, raising fresh warnings about risks near the plant.
Ukraine commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, when Reactor 4 exploded on 26 April 1986, releasing radioactive material across Europe. The official death toll is 31, though a 2005 UN study estimated 4,000 could die as a result, with other estimates even higher. The abandoned city of Pripyat, where plant workers lived, remains a ghost town.
Fifteen years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, package tours have begun operating in areas where evacuation orders were lifted, offering visitors a chance to see affected areas firsthand. Officials call it "hope tourism," emphasizing its educational value over enjoyment. TEPCO, the plant operator, views tourism revival as inseparable from the ongoing cleanup and its own reputation repair.
Serhiy and Iryna married 40 years ago, unaware a nuclear reactor had exploded less than 3 miles away.
