Еnvironmental and Socio-Demographic Consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident: A Historical Retrospective after 36 Years

• Authors: Tetiana Dmytrivna Chubina , Yanina Anatoliivna Fedorenko , Oksana Oleksiivna Spirkin

Abstracts

EN

The accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was one of the largest in human history. It is often referred to as a global event because its effects were felt not only by Ukrainians but also by the populations of Belarus, Russia, Central Europe, the Balkans and the Scandinavian Peninsula. 2022 marked the 36th anniversary of this terrible occurrence, when the history of Ukraine in the late twentieth century was divided into two parts: before the tragedy of 26 April 1986, and after it. Today, it is important for Ukrainian society not only to recognise the significance of the catastrophe and remember its victims but also to find ways to overcome its grave consequences. This requires comprehensive research useful for developing new approaches to minimising the environmental and socio-demographic problems caused by the Chornobyl tragedy. Thus, this research has practical scientific, humanitarian and socio-political significance. The novelty of the obtained results lies in the study’s critical rethinking of the achievements of predecessors and its analysis of historical sources concerning the environmental and socio-demographic consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant as they manifested from 1986 to 2022. The methodological basis of the work is empirical cognition. The use of logical-analytical methods of grouping and typology allows us to classify homogeneous events and coherently present the material of the article. The study additionally uses comparative judgment, historical-statistical and problem-chronological methods. The principles of objectivity and impartiality also play an important role in the work. The purpose of the study is to investigate the consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident on the environmental and socio-demographic aspects of the population of Ukraine from 1986 to 2022 based on the identified set of sources. From a historical perspective, the level of pollution in the territories of Ukraine is traced, the demographic situation is monitored, and parallels are drawn between the Chornobyl disaster and the increase in incurable diseases and mortality. In conclusion, the authors note that although 36 years have passed, the echo of this catastrophe remains tangible for the population of Ukraine. Several issues still must be solved. The first is the return to life, namely, the safe living and management of areas that have been exposed to radiation contamination, as well as the continuation of work aimed at restoring agricultural soils. Second, purposeful work must be conducted by the state to minimise social and demographic problems resulting from the Chornobyl catastrophe. In our opinion, the government should increase expenditures aimed at providing quality medical services to the population of Ukraine, as well as conduct constant monitoring of the health of those people who are at high risk in order to better detect diseases in their early stages. These groups of people include liquidators of the consequences of the accident and migrants. Such measures can stabilise the demographic situation by increasing birth rates and reducing mortality, as well as improve the health and living standards of the population of Ukraine.

Keywords

EN

Chornobyl; accident; radiation; evacuation; ecological disaster; demographic situation; acute radiation sickness; historical retrospective

• Publisher: University of Warsaw - Centre for European Regional and Local Studies (EUROREG) and Regional Studies Association - Polish Section
• Journal: Studia Regionalne i Lokalne
• Year: 2023
• Issue: Special Issue
• Pages: 101-109

Dates

published

2023

Contributors

author

Tetiana Dmytrivna Chubina

• Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety named after Chornobyl Heroes of National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine; Cherkassy, Ukraine

• https://orcid.org/0000000293833604

author

Yanina Anatoliivna Fedorenko

• Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety named after Chornobyl Heroes of National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine; Cherkassy, Ukraine

• https://orcid.org/0000000252060705

author

Oksana Oleksiivna Spirkin

• Cherkasy Institute of Fire Safety named after Chornobyl Heroes of National University of Civil Defence of Ukraine; Cherkassy, Ukraine

• https://orcid.org/0000000179320127

References

• Baranovska, N., 2011, ‘Vplyv Chornobylskoi katastrofy na transformatsiini protsesy u suspilstvi’ [‘The Impact of the Chornobyl Disaster on the Transformation Processes in Society’], Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal, 2, 123–142.
• Baranovska, N., 1999, Ukraina – Chornobyl – svit: Chornobylska problema u mizhnarodnomu vymiri 1986–1999 [Ukraine – Chornobyl – the World: The Chornobyl Problem in the International Dimension 1986–1999]. Kyiv.
• Central State Archive of the Supreme Bodies of Power and Government of Ukraine (TSDVO of Ukraine). Fund 1. Series 22. Dossier 1984. Information and Reference Documents on the Chornobyl Disaster. 18 March 1988 – 16 September 1991. 142 Sheets.
• Central State Archive of the Supreme Bodies of Power and Government of Ukraine (TSDAGO of Ukraine). Fund 1. Series 32. Dossier 2671 Notes, References, Information of the Central Committee of the Communist Party on Chornobyl. 7 January 1989 – August 29, 1989. 92 Sheets.
• Fedorenko, Y., 2014, ‘Stan ekolohichnoho seredovyshcha zhyttiediialnosti selian u protsesi transformatsii ahrarnoho sektoru: istorychnyi kontekst’ [‘The Situation of the Ecological Environment of Peasants in the Process of Transformation of the Agricultural Sector: Historical Context’], Naukovi zapysky. Seriia: Istorychni nauky, 19, 70–75.
• Hudkov, I., 2003, ‘Suchasna radiatsiina sytuatsiia v ahrarnii sferi na terytorii Ukrainy, Rosii ta Bilorusi v zoni vplyvu avarii na Chornobylskii AES’ [‘Current Radiation Situation in the Agricultural Sector in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus in the Area Affected by the Chornobyl Accident’] Dopovidi uchasnykiv chetvertoi mizhnarodnoi naukovo-praktychnoi konferentsii ‘Problemy silskohospodarskoi radiolohii: 17 rokiv pislia avarii na ChAES’, Zhytomyr.
• ‘In Ukraine 1.6 Million People are Still Being Treated due to the Chornobyl Accident – Ministry of Health’ [Online]. Available from: https://hromadske.ua/posts/v-ukrayini-16-miljona-lyudej-dosi-likuyutsyacherez-avariyu-na-chornobilskij-aes-moz (accessed: 30.08.2021).
• Lakiza-Sachuk, N., Omelianets, N. and Pyrozhkov, S., 1994, Znachenie sotsialno-demograficheskikh posledstviy Chernobylskoy katastrofy dlya Ukrainy. Sovremennoe sostoyanie i perspektivy [The Significance of the Socio-Demographic Consequences of the Chornobyl Disaster for Ukraine: Current State and Prospects]. Kyiv.
• Law of Ukraine No. 3522-IV (2006) ‘On the National Program for Overcoming the Consequences of the Chornobyl Disaster for 2006–2010’. Available at: http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3522-15 Main Directorate of the Pension Fund of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk Region, 2021, ‘35th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Accident’ [Online]. Available at: https://www.pfu.gov.ua/if/ 183513-35-richnytsya-avariyi-na-chaes/ (accessed: 10.08.2021).
• Mykhailenko, P., 1998, ‘Do statystychnoi informatsii pro naslidky Chornobylskoi avarii’ [‘To Statistical Information on the Consequences of the Chornobyl Accident’], Ekonomika APK, 92–98.
• Natsionalna dopovid pro stan tekhnohennoi ta pryrodnoi bezpeky v Ukraini u 2003 rotsi [National Report on the State of Technogenic and Natural Security in Ukraine in 2003], 2004, Kyiv.
• ‘On Amendments and Invalidation of Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine. Law of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine No. 76-VIII of 28.12.2014 of the Region’. Available online at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/76-19#Text (accessed: 10.05.2022).
• ‘On Amendments to Article 48 of the Law of Ukraine On the Status and Social Protection of Citizens Affected by the Chornobyl Disasters. Law Of Ukraine No. 2082-VIII 2017’. Available online at: https: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2082-19#Text (accessed: 10.05.2022).
• ‘On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine on the Status and Social Protection of Citizens Affected by the Chornobyl Disaster. Law of Ukraine from 29.06.2021’. No. 1584-IX. Available online at: https:// https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1584-20#Text (accessed: 07.05.2022).
• Poyarkov et al., 2006, Osnovnye prioritety minimizatsii posledstviy avarii na ChAES na period 2001–2010 gody [The Main Priorities for Minimising the Consequences of the Chornobyl Accident for the Period 2001–2010], Kiev.
• Radio Liberty, 2016, ‘Chornobyl Victims and Medical Consequences of Radiation’. Available online at: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/27677731.html (accessed: 10.08.2021).
• Radio Liberty, 2022, ‘Russian Soldiers Spent a Month Living in Trenches in the Most Dangerous Place near Chornobyl’. Available online at: https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/rosiyski-soldaty-okopy-poblyzuchornobylya/31790165.html (accessed: 31.03.2023).
• ‘Regulations on City, District, and Inter-District State Laboratories of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection’. Order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine No. 65 dated 9 February 2018. Available online at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0468-17#Text (accessed: 17.08.2021).
• Smolii, V. A., 2006, Istoriia ukrainskoho selianstva: Narysy v 2 kh t. [History of the Ukrainian Peasantry: Essays in 2 Volumes], Kyiv: Naukova dumka, vol. 2.
• Smolii, V., Berenshtein L., and Panchenko, P. (eds.), 2000, Ekolohichni problemy rozbudovy hromadianskoho suspilstva v suchasnii Ukraini. [Environmental Problems of Civil Society Development in Modern Ukraine]. Kyiv.
• Sotsialnyi, medychnyi ta protyradiatsiinyi zakhyst postrazhdalykh v Ukraini vnaslidok Chornobylskoi katastrofy, 1998, Zbirnyk zakonodavchykh ta normatyvnykh dokumentiv 1991–1998 rr. Kyiv.
• ‘Threats in the Field of Environmental and Man-Made Security and their Impact on the State of National Security (Monitoring the Implementation of the National Security Strategy). Analytical Note’. Available online at: https://niss.gov.ua/doslidzhennya/nacionalna-bezpeka/zagrozi-u-sferi-ekologichnoi-tatekhnogennoi-bezpeki-ta-ikh-vpliv (in Ukrainian) (accessed: 7.08.2021).

Identifiers

DOI

10.7366/15094995s2307

Biblioteka Nauki

2216627