An Explosion That Changed the World

On April 26, 1986, Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in what was then the Soviet Union, now Ukraine, exploded, causing the worst nuclear disaster in history. A massive amount of radiation spread across large parts of Europe, affecting millions of people.

The Chernobyl disaster forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes, and in countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland, radioactive fallout was detected in the soil. The contamination remains today, particularly in mushrooms, wild game, and reindeer. Many of those who worked on the cleanup, known as “liquidators,” were exposed to high radiation doses and later suffered severe illnesses.

Although nearly 40 years have passed since the disaster, Chernobyl remains an unhealed wound. The area around Reactor 4 is enclosed in a massive protective structure called the “New Safe Confinement,” built in 2016 to prevent further radiation leakage.

Chernobyl in the Shadow of War

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Chernobyl has once again become a focal point – not because it still generates electricity or plays a vital role in the energy system, but because of its symbolic and media significance.

Russia occupied the Chernobyl facility at the start of the invasion but withdrew after a few weeks. During the occupation, some monitoring systems were damaged, but no major leaks were reported. Since then, Ukraine has strengthened security around the plant.

Recently, an attack on the facility was reported, where a drone allegedly damaged parts of the protective structure. However, no increased radiation levels have been detected following the incident. This raises the question: Why target a site that holds no strategic military value?

What Would Happen if Chernobyl Were Blown Up Today?

Blowing up Chernobyl today could indeed release radioactive material, but it would not be on the same scale as the 1986 disaster.

Most of the most dangerous radioactive material was released nearly 40 years ago. What remains inside Reactor 4 consists of fuel remnants and radioactive dust that could spread if the protective structure is destroyed. An explosion could compromise this safety barrier, leaving the reactor more exposed and leading to local radiation releases.

The spread of radiation would depend on weather conditions and wind direction. In a worst-case scenario, radioactive particles could disperse over Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and potentially parts of Europe.

However, this would not be another Chernobyl disaster. The amount of radioactive material that could be released is significantly lower, and the effects would be more localized. At the same time, it would intensify fear and cause massive panic both in Ukraine and globally.

Media Value – but No Strategic Importance

Targeting Chernobyl seems to be more about psychological warfare than genuine military strategy. Chernobyl holds no military value. It produces no electricity, fuels no weapons, and contains no strategic resources.

What Chernobyl does have is strong symbolic and media value. Fear of nuclear weapons and nuclear accidents runs deep in people’s consciousness, and threatening Chernobyl is an easy way to create anxiety and headlines.

It is a strategy that benefits no one. If radioactive substances were released, they would not remain within Ukraine’s borders. Russia, Belarus, and other nearby countries would also suffer. The impact would be global.

Conclusion: A Relic from the Past That Should Be Left Alone

Chernobyl is a place that has already caused too much suffering. There are no strategic benefits to attacking the facility – only unnecessary risks.

In a world already struggling with nuclear threats and climate crises, we should not create additional fears that serve no purpose. Instead of focusing on a ruin from the past, we should look forward and invest in security, energy stability, and diplomacy.

Chernobyl may be a ghost from the past – but we should not turn it into a horror story in the present.