MOSCOW, 26 April (BelTA) - On the day of the anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia Dmitry Fomchenko laid a wreath from the embassy at the Mitinskoye cemetery at the memorial to the first victims of the largest man-made disaster in history, BelTA learned from the press service of the diplomatic mission.
"This year marks the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. It has affected more than 20 countries, but the main fallout (about 70%) landed on Belarus and contaminated 23% of the territory of Belarus. The process of rehabilitation has become the most important task of sovereign Belarus. Today, we see that the number of settlements exceeding the permissible levels of radiation is decreasing. People live here, start families, have children. However, much work remains to be done. New programs are being developed with an emphasis on setting up enterprises and creating jobs in the affected regions," the embassy said.
Among those buried at the Mitinskoye cemetery in Moscow is Vasily Ignatenko, a native of the village of Sperizhye, Bragin District, Gomel Oblast. On the night of 25 to 26 April 1986, he was among the first 14 firefighters on duty from Pripyat to extinguish the fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Having received a large dose of radiation, Vasily Ignatenko was evacuated to Moscow on 27 April for treatment. However, the bone marrow transplant did not give results. He died on 13 May 1986 from acute radiation sickness.
"About 800,000 citizens of the Soviet Union were involved in the relief effort. Had it not been for the courage and dedication of these people, the consequences of this tragedy would have been far more devastating and far-reaching. We will never forget the feat of the heroes who gave their lives for the safe future of the people of the Earth," the Belarusian Embassy stressed.
