Chernobyl's last wedding: The couple who married as a nuclear disaster unfolded

BBC News
April 18, 2026
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2 min read

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A couple married near Chernobyl 40 years ago, unaware of the nuclear disaster unfolding.

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Serhiy and Iryna married 40 years ago near Chernobyl, unaware that a nuclear reactor had exploded less than three miles away. Their wedding took place amidst the unfolding disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which occurred on April 26, 1986. This event, known as Chernobyl's last wedding, highlights the immediate human experience during one of history's most severe nuclear accidents. The couple's story illustrates the lack of public knowledge and the normalcy of life continuing even as a catastrophic event began.

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