Statement by H.E. Dr. Andrii Melnyk

Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations

Introduction of Draft Resolution L.27 and Draft Amendment L.28, agenda item 72

Madam President,

Distinguished delegates,

I have the honor to introduce draft resolution A/80/L.27, entitled “Strengthening international cooperation and coordination of efforts to study, mitigate and minimize the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.”

I would also like to present our amendment A/80/L.28 to draft resolution A/80/L.3, entitled “Persistent legacy of the Chernobyl disaster.”

Almost forty years ago, on 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear accident in human history occurred at the Chornobyl nuclear power station, located on Ukrainian soil.

The consequences of that explosion were truly devastating for Ukraine.

More than 145,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, including over 2,200 settlements, were severely contaminated with radionuclides.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, thousands of Ukrainians died due to radiation exposure.

Around 600,000 so-called liquidators, involved in firefighting and cleanup operations, were exposed to extremely high doses of radiation, suffering severe and lasting health damage, especially cancer diseases.

Ukraine’s cumulative economic losses are estimated in the tens of billions of US dollars.

Madam President,

Let me remind this Assembly that the Chornobyl catastrophe was not merely an accident, nor simply a technical failure.

It was the direct consequence of a reckless experiment ordered by the top leadership in Moscow—an experiment that blatantly violated even the most basic safety rules.

Those political decisions triggered the uncontrolled reaction, the explosion, and the meltdown of the reactor core.

But the Soviet regime committed a second crime: it tried to conceal the truth.

Instead of protecting people, Moscow hid the scale of this unprecedented disaster and withheld vital information even as radioactive clouds spread across borders.

Just five days after the explosion, the same Soviet authorities forced people in Kyiv to hold a massive May Day parade to pretend that nothing had happened.

Many thousands — including schoolchildren — had to march through the city under invisible radiation.

Among those children was my wife. She was forced to spend hours under the scorching sun, exposed to this deadly gift from Moscow.

She, like millions of other Ukrainians, continues to live with the dire health consequences.

The Soviet Union’s deliberate negligence and cynical cover-up left millions unnecessarily exposed to radiation.

It revealed to the world the true nature of that regime — especially its disregard for human life — and contributed to the eventual collapse of the USSR just a few years later.

These are the reasons why Ukraine once again brings this draft resolution before the Assembly, as we have done for many years.

It is a tribute to all who suffered from this terrible tragedy.

For me, it is also deeply personal — a matter of honor and principle — to stand for the millions of Ukrainians whose lives were forever scarred by the Chornobyl disaster, and to ensure that their suffering is never forgotten.

Madam President,

Let me be clear: because of this legacy, it is Ukraine — and Ukraine alone — that has the exclusive sovereign right and sole prerogative to introduce draft resolutions relating to Chornobyl.

The Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Exclusion Zone are located entirely within the territory of Ukraine.

Therefore, the primary responsibility for initiating any United Nations decisions pertaining to this matter rests with Ukraine.

Notwithstanding this obvious fact regarding Ukraine’s penholdership, Belarus — surprisingly and without any prior consultations — submitted in September 2025 draft resolution L.3, entitled “Persistent legacy of the Chernobyl disaster.”

I wish to emphasize that Belarus did not request consultations with Ukraine.

It sent a formal request for consultations only on 20 November 2025, after Ukraine had already tabled the draft resolution that I am honored to present today.

This shocking lack of engagement runs counter to established practice and should not be ignored by this Assembly.

Moreover, there is another aspect. As you will recall, when Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Exclusion Zone were among the first targets seized by Russian troops, invading from the territory of Belarus.

During the 36-day occupation, Russian forces violated radiation safety protocols and used the site for military purposes, as a springboard for their advance towards Kyiv.

Ukraine restored full control over the Chornobyl NPP on 3 April 2022.

Given the instrumental role played by the authorities in Minsk in facilitating Russia’s military invasion and the occupation of the Chornobyl NPP, Belarus has lost any moral standing to initiate UN decisions related to the Chornobyl issue.

Let me recall the definition of aggression, as adopted by this Assembly in its Resolution 3314 (1974).

According to Article 3(f):

“The action of a State in allowing its territory, which it has placed at the disposal of another State, to be used by that other State for perpetrating an act of aggression against a third State, qualifies as an act of aggression.”

By allowing the Russian Federation to use its territory for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus enabled the aggression against Ukraine.

This will never be forgotten.

Distinguished delegates,

Through its draft resolution, Ukraine seeks to ensure that the United Nations Development Programme and other relevant UN entities continue to play a central role in both the immediate and long-term recovery and sustainable development of the areas affected by the most severe nuclear disaster in human history.

Ukraine’s draft is not only about the past; it is forward-looking, fact-based, and focused on strengthening international coordination and sustained UN engagement to address today’s risks.

It addresses urgent challenges, including efforts to mitigate the consequences of the drone strike on the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl NPP in February 2025.

It also places particular emphasis on preparations to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster in 2026.

Furthermore, the draft employs the correct spelling “Chornobyl”, in line with Ukraine’s official geographic nomenclature.

By contrast, the more widely used form “Chernobyl” derives from the Russian transliteration of the Soviet era. Its continued use perpetuates not only a linguistic but also an imperial legacy.

Thus, Ukraine calls upon all Member States to support Ukraine’s draft resolution and vote in favor of it.

Thank you, Madam President.