On April 28, 2026, the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland held a commemorative event at PolitForum in Bern marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

The event brought together representatives of Swiss political circles, academia, expert communities, and civil society to reflect on one of the largest man-made disasters in human history.

In her opening remarks, the Ambassador of Ukraine emphasized that Chornobyl remains not only a tragedy of the past but also a crucial reminder of the cost of irresponsibility, lack of transparency, and political decisions whose consequences can affect entire generations.

The discussion was structured around three thematic panels:
• the history of the 1986 disaster and its global consequences;
• Chornobyl in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine and current nuclear safety challenges;
• the future of the Chornobyl zone, nuclear energy, and global lessons learned.

Special attention was given to the events of 2022, when the Russian occupation of the Chornobyl zone created unprecedented risks to nuclear safety, once again demonstrating that war and nuclear infrastructure are dangerously incompatible.

As part of the event, an exhibition of 13 thematic posters was presented, visually illustrating key stages of the disaster, its consequences, and current challenges. Participants also had the opportunity to take a virtual VR tour of the Chornobyl zone, gaining a deeper understanding of the scale and long-term impact of the catastrophe.

Chornobyl taught the world that the consequences of disasters know no borders. Today, it also reminds us that nuclear safety is a shared responsibility.

We thank all participants for the insightful discussion and their support for Ukraine.