30th Anniversary of Chernobyl disaster

On April 26, 1986, the fourth block of the atomic power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine — at that time officially known as Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a de facto colony of Communist Russia known as USSR — exploded and the deadly radiation spread throughout Europe, but affecting mostly areas in Belarus, European Russia and Ukraine. This was the worst nuclear radiation exposure since the bombing of Japan at the end of WWII.
One person was killed immediately, more than two dozen of first responders were officially declared as dead shortly thereafter, but the real numbers of killed and injured will probably never be known. One million or more is a number being mentioned by many.
Military units without special protective clothing were ordered to clean up, and most of them either died or are suffering from the exposure until this day.
Assistance to Chernobyl victims continues to strain the budgets of both the national and local governments of Ukraine.
In accordance with policy and practice of the totalitarian Soviet regime, the truth about the disaster and the resulting deaths and injuries would have been kept a state secret, but the radiation failed to be stopped by the Iron Curtain, and the Swedish government was the first to sound the alarm. Soviet President Gorbachev finally made a public announcement several days after the explosion.
Members of the North Port and Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community will attend a “Panakhyda” (special requiem service) for the repose of souls of all Chernobyl victims at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 26 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church, 4100 S. Biscayne Drive. Following the service, a documentary film “Nature in the Chernobyl Zone” will be shown at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious & Cultural Center, with a coffee and pastry reception afterwards.
All are welcome.
Commemorations of the Chernobyl disaster are taking place throughout the world, with mass rallies, prayers and other religious services, wreath laying, etc.
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Saturday, there will be a table with materials about the Chernobyl tragedy at the Earth Day observance between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Oscar Scherer Park in Venice. The Chernobyl table and exhibit are being sponsored by the Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Clubs and Organizations of North Port and vicinity headed by Professor Vira Bodnaruk of Venice.
Members of the North Port Branch #56 of Ukrainian National Women’s League of America headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, and of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port will provide majority of volunteers to service the table.
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All are invited to a special “Evening at the L’viv Opera Theatre” at 5 p.m. Sunday at the St. Mary’s Social Hall, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive.
Enjoy the on screen viewing, recorded live, of “Cavaleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni, performed by acclaimed artists of the Ukrainian Opera.
Refreshments will be served. Donation: $25 per person. For tickets contact Natalie Sluzar at 941-429-5445, or Tetiana Silecky at 941-302-5054.
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My wife Katrusia and I wish all our Jewish friends and neighbors here in Southwest Florida and in Greater New York City happy and healthy Passover, which commences at sundown Friday.

Atañas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at  

atanask@aol.com. 
Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians