The memory of the Chernobyl disaster liquidators was honored in Nizhny Novgorod.

      On April 27, 2026, at 09:24 Society, on April 26, commemorative events were held in Nizhny Novgorod dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.

      More than 300 people participated, including 250 veteran liquidators from 42 municipalities in the Nizhny Novgorod region, relatives of the deceased, representatives of government authorities, the regional emergency management agency, and public organizations. The organizers were the Ministry of Social Development and Family Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region in collaboration with the Nizhny Novgorod Regional House of Veterans.

      After the memorial service at the Spassky Old Fair Cathedral, participants headed to the monument to the victims of radiation accidents and disasters, the "Mourning Angel," where a mourning rally and a flower-laying ceremony took place.

      To honor the memory of the heroes, Deputy Minister of Social Development and Family Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region Vadim Tsyganov, head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the region, Lieutenant General Valery Sinkov, and the chairman of the regional public organization for social support of Chernobyl disaster liquidators and their families, "Chernobyl," Nikolai Belov, were present.

      “With a tragedy of such magnitude, humanity faced this for the first time. To eliminate the consequences of the disaster, military personnel, firefighters, medics, emergency service employees, engineers, builders, drivers, agricultural workers, and radiation safety specialists were mobilized. Among them were about five thousand of our fellow countrymen. Many of them sacrificed their own lives and health to cope with the aftermath of this monstrous catastrophe,” noted Vadim Tsyganov.

      The commemorative program continued in the "Packhouses" concert hall. Deputy Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Sergey Polovnikov thanked the liquidators for their resilience and selflessness. He also expressed gratitude to those who died while fulfilling their official and civic duty, assuring that their contribution would not be forgotten.

      Activists from the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the "Union of Chernobyl" organization were awarded certificates and diplomas for their contribution to socially significant activities. Letters of appreciation were presented to veterans for their courage and selflessness in eliminating the consequences of the disaster by the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod region, chairman of the committee on state power, local self-government, and regulations Vladimir Pakov, and the head of the regional emergency management agency Valery Sinkov.

      Veteran liquidator and chairman of the Council of Veterans of War and Labor of Nizhny Novgorod Nikolai Anatolyevich Kolosov shared his memories.

      “The hardest thing for me was the realization of what had happened. It is impossible to understand until you see everything with your own eyes. When we drove through Pripyat, through the villages, it seemed like some surreal nightmare: residential buildings all around, the wind swaying washed laundry on the lines, strollers standing at the entrances, but there were no people. An absolutely dead silence... I would never wish anyone to see such a thing...” he confessed.

      The commemorative events concluded with a concert by the Nizhny Novgorod Governor's Orchestra conducted by Evgeny Petrov.

      On the eve of the anniversary of the disaster, a correspondent from NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" spoke with Nikolai Kolosov. To read about what Pripyat looked like in the first months after the disaster and work in the exclusion zone, click here. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.