Opening of the documentary exhibition «Chernobyl – A View Through Time» at the Life Safety Educational Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus

On April 24, 2026, an international scientific and practical conference was held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster. As part of this event, the documentary exhibition «Chernobyl – A View Through Time» was opened, prepared by the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (hereinafter NARB) and the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents.

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident occurred. The consequences of this largest man-made disaster in the history of nuclear energy are still being addressed. For the Republic of Belarus, as the country most affected by the disaster, this date symbolizes a significant milestone, highlighting the efforts undertaken by the state to overcome the consequences of the disaster. Over the past decades, a range of large-scale measures have been implemented that have enabled progress from the aftermath of the disaster, rehabilitation, and restoration of the affected areas to the transition to sustainable development.

The conference was attended by representatives of the republican government bodies of the Republic of Belarus, federal executive bodies of the Russian Federation, deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus, and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

At the exhibition, NARB presented archival documents: decrees, reports, certificates, meeting minutes, and decisions of the Government Commission for the Elimination of the Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident; documents on the resettlement of populations from contaminated areas, the health status of affected people, and the provision of international assistance in connection with the accident. Of particular interest are also documents on the restoration of the affected areas.

NARB Department Head M.A.Starostenko and NARB Lead Archivist V.P.Garmatny introduced the exhibition to the conference participants and numerous guests.

1. The documentary exhibition «Chernobyl – A View Through Time»

2. NARB Department Head M.A.Starostenko and NARB Lead Archivist V.P.Garmatny introduce the exhibition to event participants.

3. NARB Department Head M.A.Starostenko introduces the exhibition to V.E.Babich, First Deputy Head of the University of Civil Defense of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

4. NARB Department Head M.A.Starostenko describes the archival documents on display.

5. Event participants tour the exhibition.

6. Event participants tour the exhibition.

7. Event participants tour the exhibition.

8. Archival documents on display.