Shaping a New Perception of the History of Chornobyl

The Kyiv Regional State Administration, together with the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management and the public, will shape a new perception of the history of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP.

The Kyiv Regional State Administration, represented by First Deputy Head Dmytro Nazarenko, the State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, represented by its head Serhii Kostiuk, and the civil society organisation “Association of Chornobyl Tour Operators”, represented by Chair of the Board Yaroslav Yemelianenko, signed a memorandum of cooperation.

The document was signed today, 22 April. The subject of cooperation will be shaping a modern perception of the history and consequences of the Chornobyl disaster.

“We must move away from the idea that Chornobyl is an exclusion zone. On the contrary, we must view this territory as a zone of revival and new opportunities. That is why, together with experts, we will work on shaping a large-scale educational and information campaign. It is planned for a year, and over that time we aim to change the perception of the history of the Chornobyl disaster among our residents,” said Dmytro Nazarenko.

Among the priority plans is spreading information among the population about radiological protection and the environmental rehabilitation of areas that suffered radioactive contamination. For this, experts and participants in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP will be involved.

“We are convinced that visits to the exclusion zone should be developed and supported. All the steps taken by the Office of the President of Ukraine with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other public authorities will help us develop our tourism potential,” added Serhii Kostiuk.

“Insufficient public information about the events that took place as a result of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP led to mass psychological trauma for the Ukrainian nation caused by Chornobyl. Chornobyl tourism is a key tool for overcoming psychological trauma and normalising the information field. After all, in a single visit to the modern exclusion zone, people leave their fears behind, becoming convinced that the exclusion zone has long been, de facto, the Chornobyl zone of revival. And it is especially important to us that residents of neighbouring districts know and understand this and have no unfounded fears about modern Chornobyl,” says Yaroslav Yemelianenko.