BELHYDROMET

Ru Be En

Main / About us / Press center / News and events

16.04.2026

Unified Information Day at the Branch "Gomeloblhydromet": Memory of Chernobyl and the Path to Sustainable Development

On April 16, the Branch "Gomeloblhydromet" held a Unified Information Day. The event was conducted by Mikhail Kavalenka, Deputy Head of Belhydromet.

The topic of the meeting was dedicated to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and the path our country has traversed over 40 years toward the revival and sustainable development of the affected territories.
During his address, Mikhail Kavalenka noted that over the past decades, significant results have been achieved in overcoming the consequences of the accident. In particular, six state programs for the mitigation of its consequences have been implemented.
Key figures and facts:
Program implementation period: 1990–2025.
Total funding: more than $19 billion USD (in equivalent).
Main area of focus: ensuring sustainable socio‑economic development of territories affected by the Chernobyl accident.
Within the framework of the state programs, important tasks were consistently addressed – from priority measures to ensure public safety to long‑term projects for the restoration of infrastructure and ecosystems. This made it possible not only to stabilize the situation in the region but also to create conditions for its further development.
Mikhail Kavalenka emphasized that today the main task is to preserve the achieved results. To do this, it is necessary:
- to continue radiation monitoring in the affected territories – this is a key tool for controlling the environmental situation and ensuring the safety of citizens;
- to actively introduce modern approaches and technologies into efforts to minimize the consequences of radioactive contamination;
- to use the accumulated experience to improve the system for responding to and enhancing preparedness for emergency situations.

"Our goal is for the Chernobyl experience to remain forever a lesson, not a reason for despair," concluded Mikhail Kavalenka.

The event not only provided an opportunity to remember the events of 1986 but also to objectively assess the scale of the work accomplished. It once again reminded everyone of the importance of responsible attitudes toward the environment and the necessity of uniting efforts to address complex environmental challenges.