Ukraine vows to enhance nuclear security on 30th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko pledged to step up efforts to enhance his country's nuclear security on Tuesday, the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

"We should do our utmost to eliminate consequences of the catastrophe and prevent such disasters in the future," Poroshenko said during a commemorative event at the site of the Chernobyl accident in northern Ukraine.

"Strict and effective security measures must be a priority in the nuclear sphere," he said.

Nuclear energy, he said, now remains the most viable source of power for Ukraine, and Ukraine will strive to improve its nuclear technologies and better protect its nuclear facilities to ensure their safety.

He thanked the international community for financing the construction of a new safe shelter over the damaged Chernobyl reactor No.4 and new the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISF2).

On April 26, 1986, a series of explosions occurred at the plant located 110 km north of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, resulting in the demolition of the No. 4 reactor and the spread of radiation across Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and other European countries.

To assist Ukraine in making the Chernobyl disaster site environmentally safe, international donors have established a special fund, which finances security projects in the area.

In 2011, about 780 million U.S. dollars were raised by the donors to build a safe sarcophagus over the destroyed reactor to prevent further leakage of radiation.

On Monday, the international community pledged an additional 87.5 million euros (about 99.2 million dollars) for Ukraine to complete the construction of the ISF2 facility, which is needed for the safe decommissioning of units No.1, 2 and 3 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Endi