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“Yes to fusion research, no to an ideological and outdated approach that reintroduces fission.”

Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, one of the most serious environmental and public health wounds in modern history remains open. On the night between April 25 and 26, 1986, a radioactive cloud spread across much of Europe, contaminating territories and populations and leaving consequences that are still felt today.

According to estimates by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, by 2065 the disaster could result in tens of thousands of additional cancer cases. Thousands of responders were involved in containment operations, many of whom paid with their lives.

“Four decades on,” state Piergiorgio Benvenuti, National President of Ecoitaliasolidale, and Serena Taje’ Forni, Vice President and Director General of Domus Europa, “the Chernobyl disaster and the subsequent accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster confirm that nuclear fission still presents significant critical issues, both in terms of safety and waste disposal.”

In 2026, the issue of nuclear safety remains closely tied to geopolitical balances. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plantcontinues to represent a major concern in the context of the ongoing conflict, exposed to potential risks linked to military operations.

“It is essential,” Benvenuti and Taje’ Forni continue, “to reduce nuclear risks at a global level and to work towards international stability. The presence of nuclear facilities in crisis areas makes reflection on the future of energy even more urgent.”

A reference to the principles of integral ecology and environmental responsibility—also emphasized in recent years by the teachings of Pope Francis—remains in the background of public debate and energy policy decisions.

Ecoitaliasolidale and Domus Europa reaffirm their commitment against nuclear power in Italy, recalling the referendums of 1987 and 2011, which expressed citizens’ opposition to nuclear fission energy.

“Today, a new and more grounded maturity sheds light on those choices. Ukraine, a beloved land where we are currently operating, shows the wounds of a war that is also a war against the environment.
Dolphins burned alive in the sea of Odessa are a lament that joins shattered limbs and the broken lives of countless young people.
The highest level of alert surrounding sensitive nuclear sites highlights the intrinsic danger of such policies in crisis zones.
Not least, the arms race in this direction has fueled the anti-Iran offensive, setting half the world ablaze.”

At the same time, the two associations look with interest at nuclear fusion research. “Fusion represents a promising prospect for clean and safe energy. Scientific progress is significant, although the timeline for full application remains long.”

“Italy,” they conclude, “can play an important role in this transition by focusing on innovation, research, and sustainability. The memory of Chernobyl must continue to guide present-day choices.”

Prof. Alexander Gardetto, Domus Europa  and Renovua S.p.A. are active in Ukraine, performing TSR® (Targeted Surgical Reconstruction) surgeries pro bono for Ukrainian war veterans and civilian victims with limb amputations. These interventions, carried out in cooperation with Ukrainian public hospitals, have demonstrated outstanding clinical results, including the elimination of phantom pain and significant improvement in prosthetic functionality.

Building on this direct field experience, the Veterans Project aims to establish structured Competence Centers within selected public hospitals for advanced amputation surgery and TSR®, combined with dedicated rehabilitation centers for prosthetic implementation and long-term physical and psychological recovery.

The project integrates surgical excellence, medical training of Ukrainian doctors, and sustainable infrastructure development under a public-private partnership model, ensuring long-term local capacity and international standards of care.