Ukraine Marks 40th Anniversary of Chornobyl Disaster Amid Ongoing War

Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia's four-year-old war could spark a repeat of the world's worst nuclear disaster.



Kyiv says Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones on a flight path near the plant to attack Ukrainian cities, even damaging a critical protective shield in an attack last year.



Marking the disaster - which spewed radioactive material across much of Europe despite efforts by Soviet authorities to hide the scale - has taken on sharp new meaning during Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbour.



"The Chornobyl disaster was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Moscow, in violation of safety protocols, and followed by lies and cover-ups," Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement this week.