Speech of the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on the occasion of the Commemoration Day of the Liquidators of the Chernobyl Disaster

December 14, 2009
On December 14, Ukraine honours the participants of the relief operation at Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Dear veterans of Chernobyl!


Today Ukraine honours the memory of the heroes who stood up on the way of the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl. We bend in grief before those who fell while rescuing their native land and the entire human race from the effects of the largest in history man-made catastrophe.

It was a great feat of all those who took part in fighting the consequences of the explosion of the fourth power unit of Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Specialists in various fields spared no effort; they did everything possible and impossible in order to protect our land from the horrible tragedy. Over three million people suffered the outcomes of the terrible radioactive cataclysm; nearly 73 thousands of them became disabled.

Military and civilian personnel of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine were among the many thousands of heroes of Chernobyl who kept permanent watch in the disaster area.

No matter how many years and generations pass, the grateful human memory will retain everyone whose courage and heroism helped to localize the tragedy which could have had far larger dimensions and effects.

Dear veterans of Chernobyl, I am deeply grateful for your courage, your selflessness, your high professionalism which you put to use for the sake of saving the lives of millions of people and rescuing of your native land.

I heartily wish you strong health, happiness and well-being.

Honour and respect to you!


Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
Lieutenant General Victor Hvozd