Postage Issue: Chornobyl. 40 Years

In the spring of 1986, orchards were in bloom and life went on as usual. Then, in the early hours of April 26, an explosion tore through Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Everything changed.

We honor the memory of those who lost their lives, all who suffered, and their families. We remember their sacrifice and the price that was paid. We also remind ourselves that a nuclear disaster can happen again.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the catastrophe, Ukrposhta issues the stamp sheet “Chornobyl: 40 Years of Pain, Remembrance, and Warning”.

The Chornobyl disaster destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives and became one of the triggers of Ukraine’s political movement in the late 1980s.

Hundreds of thousands of people worked on the sight — firefighters, soldiers, engineers, civilians, and many conscripts. Most of them worked without completely understanding the gravity of the situation. For thousands, this work proved fatal, either immediately or years later.

At the same time, the Soviet authorities concealed the disaster. People were still gathered for May Day parades despite the risk. Meanwhile, radiation was already spreading across Ukraine and Europe. Sweden was among the first countries to detect unusually high radiation levels, which forced the world to learn the truth.

More than 100,000 people were evacuated from the affected areas. Residents of Prypiat left their homes in haste, expecting to return in a few days. Most never did.

The risk of nuclear disaster did not remain in the past.

Today, russia systematically uses Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure as a tool of pressure and intimidation. In 2022, Russian forces entered the Chornobyl exclusion zone, causing forest fires and raising radioactive dust. The greatest threat remains the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where military equipment is deployed on-site, attacks are launched from its territory, and the facility faces serious challenges with cooling and power supply.

Chornobyl happened once, but its consequences last. We hope it will never happen again.

On April 24, 2026, a new Ukrainian postage stamp titled Chornobyl: 40 Years of Pain, Remembrance, and Warning will be officially issued and valid for postal use nationwide.

Stamp No. 2230 — Chornobyl. Nuclear Terrorism of the russian federation

Stamp No. 2231 — Chornobyl. Liquidator Heroes

Stamp No. 2232 — Chornobyl. 26.04.1986

Sheet size: 78х140 mm

Stamp sizes, mm: 52,2х26,1 та 52,2х38,28

Denomination: F

Print run: Souvenir sheet — 60,000 copies (including 5,010 uncut perforated sheets for “Exclusive” and “Exclusive+” subscribers), First Day Covers — 15,000 copies, Presentation folder — 400 copies

Design of the sheet, First Day Cover and special cancellation mark: Volodymyr Taran

This issue was produced with the support of the National Museum "Chornobyl"