Sasha’s praise for Chernobyl Irish support
A VICTIM of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster has sent a heartfelt message of thanks to the people of Ireland for helping him. Sasha Leuvkin, 29, was born with severe congenital disabilities in a remote village in the radiation affected region in Belarus. He was abandoned as a child, forced to live in a forest and ended up in an orphanage supported by Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International charity. From staying with a family in Bray, Co Wicklow, to moving to an Irish-funded Independent Living Complex in Eastern Europe, Sasha is now writing an autobiography that includes passages on how Irish volunteers saved his life. To mark the inaugural United Nations Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day, he recorded an emotional video message to thank people here for their continuing help. He said: “To the people of Ireland, thank you for not forgetting about us here in Belarus. I’m happy that all over the world they know about Chernobyl and the special day on April 26. “Please make sure that all of the world never forgets.”