Belarus Remembers Chernobyl Disaster - and Charts a Path Forward

In Minsk, the Council on Sustainable Development convened a meeting to mark the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (April 26).

April 25, 2025

Ms. Renfei Liu, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Belarus, welcomed the participants of the Council's meeting.

Photo: UNDP in Belarus

Every April, Belarus pauses to remember Chernobyl, one of history’s most devastating nuclear disasters. Thirty-nine years on, the catastrophe’s shadow lingers: 12% of the country’s territory remains contaminated by radionuclides, a vivid reminder of nuclear accidents’ indiscriminate reach.

Yet Chernobyl’s legacy is not just one of loss. It has become a lesson in resilience, warning that overcoming such crises demands unprecedented cooperation and long-term commitment. Today, Belarus is transforming its most affected Mogilev and Gomel regions into hubs of innovation and progress.

At a meeting of the Council on Sustainable Development, held at Belarus’ Republican Center for Life Safety, officials and experts gathered to discuss further development of the Gomel and Mogilev regions, the territories hardest hit by the 1986 disaster. Once defined by despair, these regions are now pioneering sustainable development.

The UNDP highlighted its tangible contributions to communities and nature conservation in Belarus’ affected regions, while outlining strategies for deeper collaboration in the years ahead.

Photo: UNDP in Belarus

With UNDP support, Belarus is developing the regional strategies aimed at 2040 for Mogilev and Gomel, alongside 11 pilot initiatives designed to foster inclusive, tech-driven recovery. Among them are green farming innovations and AI-enhanced diagnostics, creation of inclusive environment for vulnerable communities.

Heads of UN agencies in Belarus took part in the Council's discussions.

Photo: UNDP in Belarus

Among the nations hardest hit by Chernobyl, Belarus is converting memory into momentum — driving innovation and sustainable growth. The past cannot be undone, but here it is being harnessed to build a better future.

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