This month marks 40 years since the radio-nuclear disaster at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine – a tragedy that continues to shape global approaches to emergency response and public health.
This is not only a moment of remembrance, but also a call to strengthen preparedness for contemporary risks, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The legacy of Chornobyl has played a defining role in establishing global standards in radiation safety, emergency response and long-term health monitoring. In today’s complex risk environment – particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine – these lessons are more relevant than ever.
From tragedy to preparedness
At an international conference in Kyiv on 25–26 April, marking 40 years since the Chornobyl disaster, arranged with the financial support of the European Union, experts explored: the long-term health consequences of radiation exposure, including radiation-induced diseases; environmental monitoring; and strategies to strengthen emergency preparedness.
The event highlighted a clear message: preparedness saves lives. As Ukraine continues to face heightened risks, strengthening readiness for such emergencies has become a critical priority for the health system.
WHO support: strengthening readiness across the system
WHO is supporting Ukraine in strengthening both national preparedness and frontline health system capacity to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
This support includes needs and gaps assessment, risk analysis, development of emergency protocols, targeted training for health-care workers, procurement of equipment, and simulation exercises designed to test coordination and decision-making in emergencies. These efforts help ensure that professionals are ready to act without hesitating when called upon.
“The impact of Chornobyl continues to guide how we prepare for complex health emergencies today,” says Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
“Preparedness is not only about responding to crises – it is about ensuring that health systems are ready to protect people before emergencies happen,” Habicht adds.
“In Ukraine, strengthening readiness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats is a critical investment in health security. Through training, provision of essential equipment and cross-sectoral coordination, we are helping ensure that health-care workers and first responders can act quickly and effectively.”
WHO works closely with hospitals, emergency medical services and public health institutions to strengthen emergency planning, improve triage systems, improve decontamination capacity and ensure safe transport of patients.
Throughout 2026, WHO will continue to expand its support, with a focus on simulation exercises, strengthened coordination between health-care facilities and emergency services, and further investment in hospital readiness and workforce capacity.
Efforts will also prioritize stronger interagency coordination, aligned with international best practices.
Tangible results since 2022
Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, WHO has significantly scaled up its support for preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats:
- More than 100 medical institutions have been equipped with specialized supplies, including decontamination kits, dosimeters and spectrometers.
- More than 4600 health-care professionals, in approximately 150 institutions, have been trained.
- Around 361 000 people have been reached indirectly through WHO-supported interventions.
Trainings have focused on chemical preparedness, radiation emergency response, decontamination operations and simulation-based exercises, ensuring that frontline facilities are better prepared to respond.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen preparedness, the National Research Centre for Radiation Medicine, Haematology and Oncology of Ukraine – a WHO collaborating centre and member of the Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network – has taken a leading role.
Working with the WHO Country Office in Ukraine and WHO headquarters, the Centre has implemented a national education programme on radio-nuclear preparedness.
A lasting lesson
Four decades after the Chornobyl disaster, the lesson remains clear: preparedness is not optional – it is essential.
As Ukraine continues to navigate both the consequences of past disasters and the risks of present-day emergencies, sustained investment in health system resilience and emergency readiness will be key to protecting lives.
The 40-year mark is not only a moment of remembrance, but also a call to action – to ensure that the lessons of Chornobyl are learned and never forgotten.