Moldovan president arrives in Ukraine on 40th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Sunday that she arrived in Kyiv to attend memorial events marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, which spewed radioactive material over Europe.​​​​​​​

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received her in Kyiv.

“Thank you President @ZelenskyyUa for receiving me in Kyiv — a city that has shown world what it means to refuse to be broken,” Sandu wrote on US social media company X.

“To people of Ukraine: we see you, we stand with you, and we are grateful. In defending itself, Ukraine has also been defending Moldova,” she added.

In earlier statement on Facebook, Sandu said she would hold talks with Zelenskyy.

"This morning, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, I am going to Kyiv for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and to Chernobyl to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their health or even their lives to protect Europe from an even greater tragedy," she said.

Sandu said the disaster showed that crises transcend national borders and highlighted the role of international cooperation, pointing to the protective arch built over the damaged reactor as evidence of joint efforts by multiple countries.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said on Telegram that to contain radiation, a sarcophagus was constructed over the destroyed reactor, and later reinforced by an international effort involving more than 40 countries through the New Safe Confinement structure.

"It is these two structures that protect against radiation emissions and pollution. Their maintenance and protection is in everyone's best interests," he said.

Zelenskyy said the ongoing war with Russia poses additional risks to the safety of the site, accusing Moscow of targeting the area with drone attacks.

"We remember everyone who gave their lives to eliminate the consequences of this tragedy. Bright memory to all the victims of the Chernobyl disaster," he said.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said April 26 is "a significant date not only for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, but for the entire world."

"It marks not just the International Day of Remembrance of the Chernobyl disaster, but also serves as a warning about the dangers of mishandling nuclear energy," she said.

Zakharova noted that, according to Ukrainian experts, the sarcophagus has long needed repairs due to aging and instability, but instead of addressing the issue, Kyiv has been blaming a potential roof collapse on a Russian drone strike.

"The Kyiv regime attempted to stage such an incident in February 2025, ahead of the Munich Security Conference, but the provocation was executed so poorly that no one believed it," she remarked.

Zakharova also accused Ukraine and its allies of using the situation around the Chernobyl nuclear plant "as a form of nuclear blackmail."

"They exploit the Chernobyl issue to create threats and fuel an anti-Russian propaganda campaign, without regard for the consequences of a possible sarcophagus collapse, prioritizing their own interests over safety," she said.

She urged European countries to allocate funds for restoring the sarcophagus rather than financing weapons purchases for Ukraine.