Where is chernobyl and what happened there in 1986?

Chernobyl is located near the city of Pripyat in northern Ukraine, close to the border with Belarus. In April 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant experienced a catastrophic explosion during a safety test, leading to a massive release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. This disaster is considered one of the worst nuclear accidents in history, resulting in widespread environmental contamination and long-term health effects for those exposed to the radiation. The area around the plant remains largely uninhabited due to the residual radioactivity.