As the world marks the solemn third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, grappling with consequences of the drone attack at Chernobyl last Friday, humanity is faced with the devastating reality of an escalating conflict that continues to inflict immeasurable suffering on innocent civilians and poses an unprecedented threat to the environment.
Last week’s emboldened strikes on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant have further escalated the realms of war. The sarcophagus that is meant to protect humanity is scarred, heightening the risk of another nuclear catastrophe. The occupation and shelling of nuclear facilities, including Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia, has set a dangerous precedent in modern warfare, turning nuclear power plants into potential weapons of mass destruction. The use of nuclear sites as battlegrounds must be unequivocally condemned under international law to ensure that the next Chernobyl is not Chernobyl itself.
Speaking on the War Anniversary Adi Roche, Voluntary CEO of Irish charity Chernobyl Children International said;
“This war has changed everything. The weaponising of nuclear power in Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia signifies to the world that the nature of modern warfare has changed forever, and brings with it a sense of foreboding for wars of the future. “
“My worst nightmare in this conflict is that the tragedy of of a second Chernobyl would be unleashed on the world. I fear that this area, a sacred area, an area of utter vulnerability and danger, a special area of human tragedy, could once again have deadly radioactive contamination released which would spread everywhere, like an uncontrollable monster. Today, we must unite to call for global recognition of the environmental destruction caused by war and to urge immediate action to safeguard our planet and future generations.” Roche continued.
The catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 left an indelible mark on history, yet in February 2022, the world watched in horror as Russian troops recklessly advanced through the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, reawakening deeply buried radioactive elements and contaminating the air, land, and water. This was not merely an act of war—it was an act of nuclear terrorism.
The war in Ukraine and this recent attack on Chernobyl has highlighted the dire need to formally recognise ‘Ecocide’—the deliberate destruction of the environment—as a crime under the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Ukrainian Government has taken a courageous step in advocating for this initiative, and it is imperative that the global community follows suit.
Ecocide is not collateral damage; it is a targeted and systematic weapon of war. The radioactive contamination unleashed by military activity in Chernobyl has already affected thousands, with rising levels of long-lived radionuclides detected on civilians, particularly children, in heavily populated areas. This environmental devastation will have consequences for generations, further underscoring the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable.
We urge the Irish Government to support Ukraine’s initiative in advocating for the recognition of ecocide as a war crime under the Hague Convention. We can no longer afford to view nature as a silent casualty of war. The consequences of inaction are irreversible. We also call upon world leaders to take immediate action in designating Chernobyl, Zaporizhzhia, and all nuclear facilities as ‘No War Zones’. Nuclear facilities must never be weaponised or used as military targets, as the risk of catastrophic fallout threatens all of humanity.
The war in Ukraine has changed the nature of modern conflict. It has demonstrated that nuclear facilities, once considered off-limits, are now pawns in geopolitical warfare. It has revealed the urgent need to enshrine the protection of the environment in international law. It has reminded us that Chernobyl is forever, and its tragic lessons must not be ignored.
We neglect Ukraine at our peril. We neglect the environment at our peril. The time to act is now.
