Kyiv –

Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia's 4-year-old war could spark a repeat of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Kyiv says Moscow has repeatedly sent missiles and drones on a flight path near ​the plant to attack Ukrainian cities, even damaging a critical protective shield in an ‌attack last ‌year.

Marking the disaster — which spewed radioactive material across much of Europe despite ​efforts by Soviet authorities to hide the scale — has taken on sharp new meaning during Russia's invasion of its smaller neighbor.