Pakistan, April 26 -- Ukraine marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster on April 26 while the ongoing conflict with Russia continues to raise concerns about nuclear safety in the region. The anniversary carries renewed significance as Ukrainian officials warn that missile and drone activity near the nuclear facility could risk another major catastrophe. Authorities say the memory of the 1986 explosion remains deeply painful while the current war adds fresh anxiety about the security of nuclear infrastructure.

The disaster occurred in the early hours of April 26, 1986 when reactor four at the Soviet-built Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded during a failed safety experiment. The blast released massive amounts of radioactive...