CITIES AND THEIR RESIDENTS AFTER A RADIATION ACCIDENT (KYIV AND FUKUSHIMA CASES)

The article is an attempt to summarize the experience of coping with urban problems caused by major human-made disasters. Based on the analysis of archival materials and other sources, the authors reproduce the situation in particular in Kyiv after the accident at the 4th Unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. It is proved that the official claim that radioactive emissions from the destroyed reactor bypassed the city was false. Data on the actual situation of radioactive contamination of the territory of Kyiv was published in Kyiv newspapers only in the beginning of 1991. However, both the central and local authorities have made some efforts to overcome the harmful effects of the accident. Among its main activities are work on the study of pollution of the hydrosphere, elaboration of methods of water purification and practical steps to ensure its population in the contaminated territories; organization of active radiation control of food, agricultural products, markets, dairies, meat-packing plants, as well as the territory of the city, motor transport, etc .; improvement and improvement of the sanitary condition of the urban space, resolving the issue of bio-waste disposal, decontamination of wildlife objects, residential, public and technical premises. The city authorities have taken many steps to protect the population of Kyiv from the possible effects of radiation contamination - for example, trying to regulate outdoor recreation. However, the authors claim, when the radiation background in Kyiv began to rise, no special measures for the protection of children were taken, and only in the second half of May, some children were sent away from the city. Already during independent development of Ukraine, work was being done to streamline the status of children affected by the Chernobyl disaster and, accordingly, to provide them with certain privileges defined by the legislation. It is noted that similar processes took place in 2011 and the Japanese city of Fukushima. Authors conclude, that the incompleteness of the process of dealing with the consequences of accidents at nuclear power plants in Ukraine and Japan, the likelihood of recurrence of such events, make the long experience of Kyiv significant for the residents of Fukushima and the human community as a whole.