Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology

V. O. Sushko¹, O. O. Kolosynska¹, I. A. Lurin², V. Yu. Vdovenko¹

¹State Institution «National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», 53 Yuriia Illienka St., Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine
²National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 12 Herzena St., Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine

THE CURRENT STATUS OF CHORNOBYL CATASTROPHE VICTIMS-COHORTS AND EXPERIENCE OF MEDICAL EXPERTISE FOR ESTABLISH CAUSATION OF DISEASE, LEADING TO LOSS OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND DEATH WITH THE ACTION OF IONIZING RADIATION AND OTHER HARMFUL FACTORS OF THE CHORNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT

Introduction. Nearly four decades after the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident, its medical and social consequences continue to require systematic evaluation, particularly in the context of formal medical expertise aimed at certifying causal relationships between disease outcomes and radiation exposure associated with the accident. In the remote post-accidental period, medical expertise plays a central role within the national system of social protection, providing legally substantiated conclusions on health loss, disability, and causes of death among affected population.
Objective: to study and characterize the number and structure of affected population categories (clean-up workers and victims) based on materials from the National Social Service of Ukraine Register and expert cases of the Central Interdepartmental Expert Commission of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (CIEC) in the remote post-accidental period.
Methods. A retrospective study was conducted using data from the National Social Service of Ukraine Register (2008–2025) and materials from medical expert cases reviewed by the Central Interdepartmental Expert Commission of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine during 2023–2025. Expert documentation was analyzed using a systematic approach, including verification of diagnoses and assessment of medical and non-medical parameters in accordance with current regulatory requirements. Descriptive analytical methods were applied.
Results. The affected population demonstrated a sustained long-term decline, primarily reflecting cohort ageing and administrative status changes. Despite this reduction, the volume of medical expertise activity remained substantial. Oncological diseases constituted the predominant category of expert assessments, followed by severe chronic non-oncological conditions, mainly cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases with complications. Distinct differences were observed between lifetime and postmortem expert assessments, reflecting variations in disease severity, clinical course, and fatal outcomes rather than population-level disease patterns.
Conclusions. In the remote post-accidental period, medical expert assessments related to the Chornobyl accident continue to be dominated by malignant neoplasms and advanced chronic diseases of circulatory system leading to significant loss of health, increasing disability and mortality. Expert-based data provide a specific and complementary perspective on the enduring medical and social consequences of the accident and remain essential for informed decision-making within the national system of health protection and social support.
Key words: radiation exposure; medical expertise of radiation effect; long-term health effects; Chornobyl survivor cohorts.

Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology.
2025;30:538-546. doi: 10.33145/2304-8336-2025-30-538-546

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