Liquidator Day in Russia (Sarcophagus Day)

Every year on April 26, a memorable date is celebrated throughout the former USSR - Chernobyl Remembrance Day. This date is dedicated to the memory of real heroes who took part in eliminating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Also, another holiday is dedicated to the memory of the liquidators of the accident - Liquidator Day or Sarcophagus Day. Let's talk about what this date is and why it is celebrated every year on November 30th. On April 26, 1986, a major man-made disaster occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located on the territory of Ukraine. The accident is still called the largest in the entire history of mankind; the damage was minimized only thanks to the work of the liquidators. Many of them gave their lives, some lost their health, paying for the quick localization of the disaster. Between 1986 and 1992, it is believed that between 600,000 and a million people were exposed to radiation risks while participating in work around Chernobyl. Today it is quite difficult to estimate the number of liquidators, since they were from different countries: from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, as well as from other former Soviet republics. According to official data, 20 thousand liquidators from all Soviet republics took part in eliminating the consequences of the nuclear disaster of 1986-1989. In 2016, in Latvia alone, 5,044 liquidators were officially registered, as well as 1,428 children born into these families. By 2019, almost 3 of the liquidators had died. Most were 40 to 50 years old at the time of death, 20 years below the national average for men. Almost all liquidators eventually developed serious health consequences, and many lost their ability to work. The shift workers of reactor 4 were among the first to take the blow: Yuri Korneev, Boris Stolyarchuk, Alexander Yuvchenko, Anatoly Dyatlov. During the liquidation, about 40 firefighters, who were the first to eliminate the consequences of the disaster, were injured. A civil defense brigade from Kyiv, numbering 300 people, who buried the contaminated soil. Numerous medical personnel, workers and military personnel were involved in clearing the hazardous area. Helicopter pilot Nikolai Melnik was the first to install radiation sensors on the reactor and received a large dose of radiation. Many miners were injured as they pumped out contaminated water to prevent it from entering the groundwater. Until now, thousands of Chernobyl veterans are working in Russia and other countries, passing on their skills and invaluable experience to young people. This knowledge is necessary to carry out rescue operations during massive fires or other emergencies. The memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives and health is celebrated every year. On November 30, 1986, the sarcophagus was completed, which was supposed to cover the destroyed power unit. This date became the holiday Liquidator Day or Sarcophagus Day. A similar memorable date is celebrated in Ukraine, only on December 14. Despite the fact that a huge price was paid, the liquidators themselves do not consider this date a holiday, since it reminds them of a difficult period in their lives. According to official data, more than 90 thousand people participated in eliminating the consequences of the disaster; many died within several years after the accident, while others suffered from health problems. Let us remember and honor the heroes who gave their lives for our well-being.