Screening of the newsreel film «Chernobyl: Chronicles of a Tragedy» in educational institutions of the Orsha region

On April 23, 2026, as part of the national «Archives for Schools» campaign, staff from the Zonal State Archives in Orsha held film lectures on the topic «Chernobyl: Chronicles of a Tragedy» for students in grades 6-9 at state educational institutions «Orsha Secondary School No.13 named after I.I.Yakubovsky» and «Orsha Secondary School No.21». The documentary was produced by the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents.

The Chernobyl disaster was the most devastating in the history of nuclear energy, with widespread economic, social, and psychological consequences. Belarus suffered more than other countries. Almost a quarter of its territory, home to a fifth of the country’s population, was contaminated with radionuclides. 479 settlements ceased to exist (306 in the Gomel region, 173 in the Mogilev region). The total damage is estimated at 32 times the republic’s 1985 budget.

The Chernobyl disaster left a deep mark on the lives of millions of people, and the consequences are still felt today. Today, remembering the Chernobyl accident, we bow our heads to the victims and express our gratitude to all who stood in the way of nuclear disaster. Their heroism is a reminder of how fragile the world is and how great is the responsibility of man for his creations.

1. Yu.I.Gryadovka, 1st category archivist at the Document Management Department of the State Archives in Orsha, is screening a film for students in grades 6-9 at Orsha Secondary School No.13 named after I.I.Yakubovsky.

2. A.N.Boreyko, 1st category archivist at the Document Management Department of the State Archives in Orsha, is screening a film for students in grades 7-8 at Orsha Secondary School No.21.