‘We neglect Ukraine at our peril’
Two Cork-based charities have renewed their pleas to the world to stand in solidarity with Ukraine as the country enters its fifth year of brutal Russian occupation.
Both Chernobyl Children International (CCI) and The Greater Chernobyl Cause issued appeals this week, marking the fourth anniversary of 2022’s devastating invasion.
The charities’ appeals also come in the lead-up to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster on 26 April.
According to CCI, recent large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid have placed enormous strain on power generation and transmission systems across the country. The charity warned that repeated damage to energy infrastructure increases risks for civilian populations and raises serious concerns for nuclear safety, as stable power supplies are essential for the safe operation of nuclear facilities.
CCI founder, activist Adi Roche, said: “It is deeply troubling that, four decades on, the region again faces dangers that threaten both people and environment. The attack on Chornobyl last year was a stark reminder that the lessons of history must never be forgotten. We neglect Ukraine at our peril.
“The ‘impregnable’ sarcophagus that was meant to protect humanity is scarred and breached, heightening the risk of another nuclear catastrophe and it brings with it a sense of foreboding for wars of the future.”
Meanwhile, The Greater Chernobyl Cause founder Fiona Corcoran has penned a desperate plea from the heart of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, a city still battered by missile strikes, where she said she can “hear the wails of the innocent echo ceaselessly day and night”.
Ms Corcoran wrote: “Just last night and into the early hours of this morning, terror gripped all areas of Ukraine as relentless strikes tore through homes, schools, and hospitals alike. I bore witness once again, listening to the horror of explosions ripping through the darkness—a terrifying reminder that this nightmare is far from over. This is no distant conflict. It is a living nightmare. It is a crime against humanity that must not be ignored or forgotten.”
Since Russia’s invasion, The Greater Chernobyl Cause has served as a lifeline of the Ukrainian people, shipping container trucks to cities and villages, delivering essential supplies. The charity has also funded the construction and refurbishment of orphanages, while supporting hospice care for the elderly and providing essential medical equipment.
In Pryluky, Chernihiv, a children’s home supported by the charity shelters 45 vulnerable children, some at the end of life, many with Down Syndrome, hydrocephalus, and other severe disabilities. Some of the children have been abandoned, while some wait while their parents fight on the front lines.
Ms Corcoran said: “This war is not a distant headline. It is a living, breathing horror on every street, in every shattered home, in every overwhelmed hospital.
"The people of Ukraine are not statistics; they are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who deserve peace, dignity, and the chance to heal.
“I demand of the world: Do not turn away. Do not let Ukraine’s suffering be yesterday’s news. Stand up, speak out, and reach out. Together, we can bring hope to the darkest days. Together, we can help Ukraine rise from the ashes.”
To donate and to learn more about how to aid Ukraine, visit Chernobyl-international.com and greaterchernobylcause.ie.