It is no coincidence that a cathedral was chosen for such an event.
As explained by Viktor Glushin, Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, words spoken within the walls of the temple sink deep into the soul, sounding like a prayer in memory of the fallen and for the health of the living liquidators of the largest accident in the history of nuclear energy. The Chernobyl disaster made it clear to the world that uncontrolled nuclear energy recognizes no state borders. Ensuring its safe use and reliable control should be the concern of all mankind.
– For forty years, we have been living through events that have turned the lives of millions of people upside down. Vitebsk region was not left aside either. Residents of the region actively provided assistance in eliminating the emergency situation. More than three and a half thousand liquidators, disregarding their health, performed their duty. Firefighters were there in the first minutes. Subsequently, employees of other services. Medics, military personnel, builders, police – everyone fought a common disaster. The Chernobyl NPP should serve as a reminder to all of us not to allow similar incidents in our activities that lead to such large-scale consequences, – emphasized Sergey Meshkoshkin, member of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, head of the regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Colonel of the internal service.
About 600 thousand people took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the disaster. Many are no longer alive. On the day of the accident, 30 people died from burns and acute radiation sickness, and more than a thousand died within two years. A minute of silence was declared and a litany was served in their memory. The memorial service was led by Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha.
– Much has been said about Chernobyl over 40 years about how it happened. And today we are beginning to talk about what this disaster teaches us, namely, overcoming. It shows that the most complex incidents can be overcome if they are approached responsibly. Belarus uses peaceful atom, thanks to which we do not buy electricity from abroad. The Belarusian NPP is a modern, safe power plant, – noted Viktor Glushin and addressed the participants of the tragic events of 40 years ago with a request to tell the younger generation about them.
Andrey Shabunya, a student of a specialized military-patriotic education class at Vitebsk Secondary School No. 44, on behalf of his peers, promised to do everything possible to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
A number of participants in the Chernobyl NPP accident cleanup were awarded honorary diplomas of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee and letters of gratitude from the chairman of the City Executive Committee.
"Vitebskiye Vesti"
