Chornobyl: Never Again
Forty years have passed since the technological disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. In the aftermath of the accident, the radioactive cloud contaminated 12 of Ukraine's 25 regions, affecting 2,293 settlements. Yet Chornobyl is not only a story of immense tragedy. It is also a testament to the extraordinary courage of the people who worked to eliminate the consequences of the disaster. Risking their lives and health, they protected humanity from the devastating effects and further spread of radiation. Many of those who witnessed and participated in those events are still with us today, and the memory of Chornobyl remains alive. In the hearts of all of us, there is one shared hope: never again.
More than 600,000 people took part in the cleanup operation following the Chornobyl disaster. They fought the fire, cleared the debris, rescued people, and worked to prevent the spread of radioactive contamination. Among them were hundreds of graduates and members of the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute community.
With gratitude and deep respect, we honor all those who participated in these events. In the very first days after the accident, one of the most urgent challenges was the rapid spread of radioactive contamination by vehicles involved in the emergency response and the evacuation of the population. Thousands of cubic meters of radionuclide-contaminated wastewater accumulated at vehicle decontamination sites. An effective solution to this problem was developed by a group of scientists from the Radiochemistry Laboratory of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute—Oleksandr Shutko, Anatolii Krysenko, and Vitalii Basov. They proposed a water decontamination technology that did not require permanent treatment facilities by developing an effective chemical reagent formulation and designing a mobile decontamination unit for field operation (for more details, see Anatolii Krysenko's memoir on pp. 2–3).
Between 1986 and 1987, the Water Decontamination Group—which included the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute specialists who developed the technology, along with drivers, instrument technicians, and compressor operators—decontaminated up to 50,000 cubic meters of radionuclide-contaminated water. The implementation of this technology and the dedicated work of the university's specialists saved the state millions of rubles (at 1986 prices). Yet the true value of their achievement went far beyond financial savings. Thanks to their initiative, perseverance, and selfless commitment, the lives and health of countless people were protected.
Specialists also remember that when the destroyed fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was being covered with sand and other finely dispersed materials in 1986, clouds of radioactive dust rose into the air, reducing the lifting capacity of helicopters to such an extent that subsequent flights became impossible. The aircraft suffered severe wear, and their engines required constant cleaning. At that critical moment, the KPI–TNR cleaning compounds proved indispensable. They had been developed at the Department of Technology of Inorganic Substances and General Chemical Technology of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering (now the Department of Technology of Inorganic Substances, Water Treatment, and General Chemical Technology) under the leadership of Associate Professor Halyna Prokofieva.
Remarkably, the water treatment technology developed by the university's scientists was completely waste-free. After the solid phase was removed from the contaminated solution, the cleaning agent could be reused. The washing solution was also employed to decontaminate vehicles, railway cars, buildings, and roads. Today, this environmentally safe cleaning agent has been further improved to effectively remove spilled petroleum products as well.
The challenges associated with mitigating the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster have not diminished over the years. According to researchers at the Department of Chemical Technology of Composite Materials of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, addressing these challenges requires continued fundamental scientific research. Among the department's developments is a technology for producing weather- and corrosion-resistant composite coatings to protect concrete, brick, and metal surfaces. These multifunctional organosilicon coatings, paints, and enamels are characterized by long-term heat resistance, non-flammability, non-toxicity, excellent dielectric properties, resistance to low temperatures, and resistance to radiation. Their service life reaches 7–10 years on metal surfaces and 20–25 years on concrete.
In addition, the department's researchers developed the design and manufacturing technology for transport and protective containers intended for the transportation, safe handling, and long-term storage (disposal) of solid radioactive waste. These containers are designed to operate within a temperature range of −40°C to +70°C and have an estimated service life of up to 300 years. The department has also developed a technology for the immobilization of liquid radioactive waste.
It is also worth mentioning a number of research and engineering projects carried out by the Rytm Research Institute, which focused on the development of remotely operated robotic systems capable of functioning under conditions of high radiation, humidity, and elevated temperatures. These robotic systems proved effective in operations within the sub-reactor areas of Unit 4, the central hall, and other sections of the Shelter facility.
It is also noteworthy that students and postgraduate researchers of the Educational and Research Institute of Telecommunication Systems, under the supervision of Professor Larysa Hloba, participated in the creation of a database of people affected by the Chornobyl disaster.
Over time, the situation at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant gradually stabilized. By the end of 1986, the destroyed fourth reactor had been enclosed within a specially constructed sarcophagus. In 2000, the plant's last operating reactor—Unit 3—was shut down, bringing all operations at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant to an end. Between 2012 and 2016, the New Safe Confinement (NSC), a giant arch-shaped structure, was constructed to cover the original Shelter. The project brought together Ukraine and 45 donor countries, which contributed more than €1.5 billion. Around 10,000 specialists from 40 countries, including 5,000 Ukrainians, participated in its construction. Trial operation of the New Safe Confinement began in 2020.
However, on the night of 14 February 2025, a Russian attack drone struck the protective arch covering the destroyed fourth reactor of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The impact damaged the steel cladding, compromised the structure's airtightness, and disrupted the ventilation system, causing the confinement to lose some of its essential safety functions, although its primary supporting structure remained intact. In December 2025, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that the New Safe Confinement required additional repairs. Based on the findings of an IAEA mission, further restoration and protection measures were recommended, including moisture control and an updated structural monitoring program. According to Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, European partners have allocated tens of millions of euros for repair work. The total cost of restoring the facility to a safe condition is estimated at approximately €500 million, making it one of the most significant infrastructure challenges facing Ukraine's nuclear safety in recent years.
Over the Years at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. For many decades, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has educated specialists for the energy sector while advancing research in thermal power engineering technologies, processes, and systems. Today, particular attention is devoted to the prevention of nuclear disasters. Achieving this goal requires international cooperation, cutting-edge research and technologies, and highly qualified professionals.
One example of such international cooperation was the International Seminar "Fukushima–Chornobyl: Lessons of Chornobyl for Fukushima," held at the university in October 2013. The event clearly demonstrated that Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and its Ukrainian-Japanese Center play an important role in fostering long-term cooperation between experts from the two countries. Today, Ukraine's experience attracts special attention from the international professional community, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of Ukrainian scientists even under the challenges of wartime.
In particular, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute became the first higher education institution in Ukraine to establish cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In 2025, on the sidelines of the 69th IAEA General Conference, the university and the IAEA formally signed Practical Arrangements for cooperation. This milestone serves as another testament to the international community's high level of confidence in the capabilities of Ukrainian universities and their ability to contribute to addressing global challenges in nuclear energy and nuclear safety.
Educating the Next Generation of Specialists. Thanks to the initiative and support of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, as well as the assistance of international partners from the United States, Sweden, Canada, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Educational and Research Institute of Nuclear and Thermal Energy established Ukraine's first master's program in Physical Protection, Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials and created the Physical Nuclear Security Educational and Research Laboratory. Students also receive practical training at leading institutions, including specialized institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, and other organizations within the nuclear industry.
It is also worth noting that the Educational and Research Institute of Nuclear and Thermal Energy recently became home to Ukraine's first testing center of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS). The center enables professionals and students to take examinations and obtain internationally recognized certifications in nuclear security, nuclear material accounting and control, as well as cybersecurity for the nuclear sector.
Memory. On the initiative of veterans of Ukraine’s energy sector and the university administration, a monument to one of the first liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster, former graduate of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Deputy Head of the Electrical Department at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Lelechenko, was unveiled on the university campus to mark the 35th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. Lelechenko prevented an explosion that could have occurred as a result of a hydrogen leak into the аварy area by shutting off its supply to the hydrogen generation facility, receiving a fatal dose of radiation in the process.”The figure cast in metal not only commemorates the heroism of one individual—it inspires us to defend our homeland and to be prepared for self-sacrifice by following the example of a true Hero. On the reverse side of the burning globe, the map of Ukraine is symbolically depicted,” veterans of the energy sector say. They often come here—to pay tribute to their colleague and teacher.
Among those who regularly visit the memorial is Kostiantyn Nozhenko, Head of the Laboratories of the Department of Automation of Thermal Power Processes at the Educational and Research Institute of Nuclear and Thermal Energy, and a 1967 graduate of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. He spent nearly eight years working at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s Shelter facility, participating in efforts to mitigate the consequences of the disaster (pictured on the far left). Together with his colleagues, he maintained a vast network of sensors that transmitted information about the conditions beneath the sarcophagus. They drilled boreholes into the solidified radioactive lava, installed neutron flux sensors, monitored data in real time, and serviced and calibrated the associated instrumentation. “Yes, this monument is about life, not death,” Kostiantyn Nozhenko says. “It honors those who sacrificed themselves to protect Kyiv, Ukraine, and the world from radioactive contamination. Some lost their health; others, like Oleksandr Lelechenko, gave their lives. Yet they continue to live in the memories of their families, friends, colleagues, and students who come here to pay their respects—to remember the past and reflect on the present.”
And the present remains uncertain and troubling. Russia’s nuclear blackmail and acts of nuclear terrorism offer little cause for optimism. The consequences of the Chornobyl disaster should have become a lesson for humanity—a powerful reminder of the immense responsibility we bear for protecting human life, public health, and the environment. Yet those in positions of power continue to pursue dangerous ambitions that threaten the entire planet. That is why vigilance and responsibility remain essential. Future generations deserve to grow up under peaceful skies in a safe world.
After the terrible accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which destroyed the lives of thousands of people and became an environmental disaster for the whole world, the enemy still resorts to nuclear terror, seizing and placing military equipment at the nuclear power plant and declaring the possibility of using nuclear weapons.
Two years ago, KPI immortalized the feat of the hero-liquidator of the Chornobyl accident, KPI graduate Oleksandr Lelechenko.
In the first hours of the Chornobyl accident, Oleksandr was called to the station, where he organized urgent work to prevent the explosion of the second stage turbine generator and personally shut off the hydrogen supply, preventing a powerful explosion.