UNAIR NEWS The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences 51动漫 (FISIP UNAIR), in collaboration with the Center for Eurasian Studies, Airlangga Global Engagement, and the EU Centre UNAIR, organized a seminar titled 40 Years After Chornobyl: Catastrophe that echoes through time. The event was held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Majapahit Hall, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus.
In her opening remarks, Vice Dean Dina Septiani BComm MCom PhD stated that the guest lecture provided valuable insights and perspectives. She expressed hope that the session would foster thoughtful discussion, mutual understanding, and encourage participants to engage with global issues in a critical and open-minded manner.
淭his opportunity allows you to expand your understanding beyond textbooks and lectures. Interacting with practitioners and diplomats helps you grasp the real complexity of international relations, she said.
Commemorating 40 years of the Chernobyl tragedy
As the keynote speaker, Charg茅 d橝ffaires of Ukraine to Indonesia Yevhenia Shynkarenko revisited the Chernobyl disaster as a moment for reflection on the nuclear catastrophe that occurred on April 26, 1986. The incident remains the largest civilian nuclear disaster in history. 淎lthough decades have passed, its effects are still being felt today. For Ukraine, Chernobyl is not only a tragic historical event but also a reminder of an ongoing global threat, she said.
She explained that the disaster occurred during a test to assess the system檚 ability to handle a power outage, during which safety protocols were ignored. Pressure from authorities to deliver rapid results led to risky decisions. 淭hese decisions resulted in two major explosions that triggered fires and released massive amounts of radiation, she added.
Shynkarenko further noted that the Soviet government did not immediately disclose the incident. The public was informed only two days later, while the full extent of the disaster remained hidden. 淚nformation began to surface after other countries detected abnormal radiation levels. Many victims died within weeks due to severe radiation exposure, she said.
Impact of the Chernobyl disaster
Shynkarenko emphasized that the disaster had extensive consequences for both people and the environment. Around 600,000 individuals served as liquidators involved in handling the crisis, many of whom were exposed to lethal radiation levels. Additionally, approximately 8.5 million people were affected, and around 300,000 residents were permanently displaced. 淢ore than 145,000 square kilometers of land were contaminated, and areas closest to the reactor are expected to remain unsafe for tens of thousands of years, she stated.
She also warned that the risks associated with Chernobyl are not limited to the past. In 2022, Russian forces occupied the nuclear plant site, raising new safety concerns. 淚n 2025, a drone strike even damaged the reactor檚 protective structure. This shows that nuclear threats remain real and can reemerge, particularly amid political and military conflict, she concluded.
Author: Putri Andini
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
