UN adopts resolution on Chernobyl: 97 countries supported, US voted against.

According to ТСН: The UN General Assembly adopted the Ukrainian resolution concerning the strengthening of international cooperation and coordination efforts to minimize the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. The document received support from 97 countries.

Summary of the resolution

The resolution titled “Strengthening International Cooperation and Coordination Efforts to Study, Mitigate, and Minimize the Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster” was adopted by a majority vote.

Russia, Belarus, China, North Korea, Nicaragua, Congo, Niger, and the United States voted against. Additionally, 39 countries decided to abstain.

Important aspects of the adoption

The document highlights the severe long-term consequences of the disaster and emphasizes the need to support affected individuals. The resolution expresses “serious concern” regarding the damage to the new confinement over the destroyed reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which occurred on February 14, 2025, due to an attack by a Russian drone, threatening international efforts regarding the safety of the site.

Furthermore, the adopted resolution establishes a new way of writing the name of Chernobyl in English: henceforth, all UN documents will use the Ukrainian transliteration Chornobyl instead of the Soviet Chernobyl. This will also affect the official name of the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Tragedy, which will be observed on April 26.

The General Assembly decided to hold a special meeting on April 24, 2026, to honor the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl tragedy and called on the international community to assist Ukraine in restoring the damaged nuclear power plant infrastructure.

Position of the United States

A representative of the US delegation stated that voting against does not mean a refusal to support nuclear safety in Ukraine. The reason for the vote was ideological disagreement with the wording related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The United States voted against the text due to references to the Agenda for Sustainable Development until 2030 and the related language. The agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals promote a soft global governance agenda, incompatible with national sovereignty and contrary to US interests,” the American representative stated.

She also emphasized that Washington will continue to support international nuclear safety standards and efforts to prevent incidents at Ukrainian nuclear facilities during the war.

Criticism from Ukraine

The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, while representing the resolution, harshly criticized Belarus's attempts to promote an alternative document. He noted that Minsk has lost the moral right to such initiatives, as it allowed its territory to be used for the Russian invasion in 2022, leading to the seizure of Chernobyl by the occupiers.

“The actions of a state that allows its territory to be used by another state to carry out an act of aggression against a third state qualify as an act of aggression,” Melnyk emphasized.

He also stressed the correctness of transitioning to the Ukrainian transliteration of the station's name, as using the form Chernobyl is “a continuation of the imperial legacy” of the Soviet era.

This resolution is of great significance for Ukraine and the international community, as it underscores the necessity of safety and addressing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, which are still felt. The change in the spelling of Chernobyl also symbolizes the restoration of Ukrainian identity on the international level. Events surrounding the adoption of the resolution once again reaffirm the importance of collective efforts in ensuring a safe future for affected regions. The further development of the situation, particularly on the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Chernobyl, will require special attention from the world.