UKRAINE, CRIMEA, AND THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER

UKRAINE: FAST FACTS Ethnic groups: 78% Ukrainian, 17% Russian Language: 68% Ukrainian, 30% Russian Religion: Overwhelmingly Orthodox Christian Life Expectancy: years Government: Republic Economy: agricultural and heavy industry –“Breadbasket” of the USSR –Stalin’s collectivization brought famine and death to millions in Ukraine

Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union until 1991 –In 1991 it became an independent nation Ukraine is between Russia and Eastern Europe Capital city, Kiev, is considered the birthplace of Russia About 8 million of Ukraine’s 44 million people speak Russian and consider themselves to be Russian –Most in the eastern part of Ukraine

After Ukraine became independent in 1991 it experienced a decade of economic turmoil In 2004, a pro-Western candidate ran against a pro-Russian candidate for President –Yanukovych, the pro-Russian candidate was declared the winner –Supporters of the pro-western candidate, Yushchenko, claimed the election was rigged –Protesters of took to the streets in the “Orange Revolution” –Yushchenko was declared the winner of the election

2010: Yanukovyvh wins election In November, 2014, Yanukovych backs out of a trade deal with the European Union Protests started –Government cracked down Putin spent billions to keep Ukraine aligned with Russia Protests continue and in February, 2014, Yanukovych flees to Russia

CRIMEA

Crimea: autonomous region of Ukraine since 1991 Majority of Crimeans are ethnic Russians and speak Russian Crimea has large oil and gas deposits In February, 2014, pro-Russian gunmen seize government building in Crimea

In March, 2014, 97% of Crimeans voted to separate from Ukraine and join Russia –Ukraine and the West says this election was rigged – ukraine-secession-vote-referendum.html?_r=0# In late March, 2014, Russia annexes Crimea –West objects and imposes sanctions Worst East-West crisis since the Cold War

Pro-Russians in Crimea and Ukraine clash with Pro-Ukrainian protesters July, 2014: pro-Russian rebels shoot down a Malaysian plane –298 lives lost – Areas in eastern Ukraine have voted to separate and join Russia –Not recognized by Ukraine

Late 2015: conflict dies down between Russia and Ukraine –UN reports over 9000 killed since start of conflict November, 2015: power from Ukraine to Crimea cut off –Russia working to supply Crimea with power

CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR DISASTER “The odds of a meltdown are one in 10,000 years. The plants have safe and reliable controls that are protected from any breakdown with three safety systems.” Vitaly Sklyarov, Minister of Power for the Ukrainian SSR., February 1986

CHERNOBYL DISASTER The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant is located in Chernobyl, Ukraine April 26, 1986: explosions destroyed a reactor at the plant The explosion caused a fire that burned for 10 days and sent a cloud of radiation around the world –Soviet officials waited 2 days to admit that the explosion had occurred 31 people were killed at the site Estimated 4,000 deaths as a result of cancer, radiation exposure 400 times more radiation was released from Chernobyl than bombing of Hiroshima

About 100,000 square miles of land in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus were contaminated Over 250,000 people were evacuated and resettled The explosion was caused by a flawed Soviet reactor design coupled with serious mistakes made by the plant operators. According to the World Nuclear Organization, it was a “direct consequence of Cold War isolation and the resulting lack of any safety culture”.

Today, the plant is surrounded by an 18-mile “exclusion zone” –An abandoned ghost town About 130 people – mostly women- live in the area The soil, water, and air is among the most contaminated in the world

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