Life in Chernobyl

LIFE IN CHERNOBYL DEAD ZONE

Following the nuclear incident in Chernobyl that occurred on April 26 1986, the Soviet government created a 30km exclusion zone

around the power plant and evacuated 116 thousand residents. The area thus became a dead zone. But today, in spite of the fact that it is one of the most contaminated locations on Earth, Chernobyl is brimming with life.

The town of Chernobyl, located within the exclusion zone and 16 km from the exploded reactor, is the main centre of daily life in the area. Prior to the incident it was home to 16 thousand people, today four thousand reside there. Most of them work in the local area, all linked in some way to the power plant, but not all of them. In fact, the town of Chernobyl is still home to some samosely, so called self-settlers who resisted evacuation from the area and remained or returned to live out their lives: people such as the painter Leonid, now famous as “the painter of Chernobyl”, or Mihail, the music teacher at the school in Chernobyl before the incident and now a pensioner.

The other inhabitants of this strange town are the staff of the administrative offices, workers involved in the disposal of radioactive material, the guards and military that control the area, firefighters and local police, but above all the personnel (around 2000 of them) who each day ensure the safety of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, at least until 2065, the year in which the decommissioning work on the reactors will begin.

There are also scientists involved in research on the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and the monitoring of radioactivity in the area and at the plant. Around 100 scientists and employees work here. For all of these workers who live in Chernobyl – in shifts of 15 days – the town offers various services like any other Ukrainian town: four mini-markets, two canteens, a post office, a coach station that connects the exclusion zone with Ukraine’s main cities, a cultural centre, a gym for keeping fit, a church in which to celebrate mass, and nowadays even three hotels for tourists.

But in the exclusion zone contamination will remain high for 200 thousand years, even though today everything appears normal in the dead zone, especially in the bustling town of Chernobyl.

Dytiatky Checkpoint, each year on 9 May the area is open to former residents who can return to their homesand visit their dead relatives at the cemeteries.

Chernobyl town. A man waits for a show to begin at the House of Culture, where events such as concerts, recitals, conferences and meetings are organize for the entertainment of the population.

The orthodox cemetery in Chernobyl. Former residents of the Exclusion Zone come to picnic at the tombs of their dead relatives, according to the orthodox tradition.

A man trains at the gym in Chernobyl. Many come here after work in order to stay in shape.

Inside the checkpoint at the ghost town of Pripyat. Victor has worked here as a guard for 7 years, his task is to control access, verifying that those who enter have the necessary permit. His shift last 12 hours.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant, staff in the control room of reactor number 2. Reactors 1,2 and 3 continue to function till 2000. The dismantled of reactors is scheduled for 2065, until workers will have to monitor the maintenance of the plant

Priest Nikolai in the Orthodox church in the town of Chernobyl. At the time of the evacuation in 1986 he refused to leave. Since then he has always lived in Chernobyl town continuing to celebrate mass for the population

A statue of Lenin in the square in Chernobyl town. In the exclusion zone time has stood still since 26 April 1986, for this reason signs of the soviet past are still visible.

Workers at the end of their shift, at the bar, in the main square in Chernobyl town.

firefighters at an outpost located within the exclusion zone.

The hall of the Pripyat hotel in Chernobyl town.

A moment to commemorate the anniversary of the nuclear disaster. The commemoration ceremony is held every year on 26 April, in the main square of Chernobyl and culminates with a orthodox mass in memory of the victims.

Chernobyl town, a worker return to his accomodation after the end of his shift.

The reception of the hotel Pripyat.The tourists that arrive in Chernobyl for organized tours can choose between 3 different hotels. The Pripyat is the cheapest and has remained in keeping with the style of soviet time.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Between reactor 2 and 3 is the "gold Corridor", so-called because of the covering applied after the incident: highly contaminated. Today the radiation is still over 30 times normal levels.

Chernobyl town, Yuriy, Valeri and Serhiy meet up sometimes at Serhiy's house to spend the evening together.

A game of ping pong at the gym of Chernobyl. Many workers come here to exercice after their shift in order to keep fit

Chernobyl town. A worker returns to his accomodation after a shift at work.

Chernobyl town. Workers return to their accomodation after their shift.

Tamara, the director of the House of Culture in Chernobyl and a keen opera singer, meets in her office with Serhiy to finalize the program, which includes shows and cultural events.

The entrance to the bus station in Chernobyl town.

A firefighter inspect a vehicle at the fire station situated in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Two men train at the gym in Chernobyl. Many come here after work in order to stay in shape.

Post office in the main square of Chernobyl town

a Queue in a shop in Chernobyl town. In the city there are 4 shops that sell necessities such as food and drink.

Chernobyl, the statue of Prometheus in front of Lenin nuclear power plant. Before the incident the statue was located in Pripyat. Later it was moved in front of the nuclear power plant and a monument was created in memory of the victims

Valeri at the 10 km checkpoint where he works on the radioactivity control of people and cars passing daily through the check point. Chernobyl exclusion zone

Chernobyl, just a few hundred meters from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is the workers' canteen.

Chernobyl town. Mihail was the music teacher at the school in Chernobyl before the incident and now a pensioner, he has always lived in Chernobyl

Chernobyl, workers head to the canteen at the nuclear power plant for their lunch break. Their route takes them past reactor 4.

Chernobyl, a workers' canteen in Chernobyl town.

The manager of the guided tours in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explains the security measures for workers inside control room number 4.

Leonid the painter of Chernobyl. Leonid has always lived in Chernobyl town before the accident. Soon after the evacuation he decided to go back to his home.

Chernobyl town. Workers while waiting the bus for their work shift at Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The post office in the town of Chernobyl in the exclusion zone. A line of telephone cabins from the Soviet era, no longer in use also due to the advent of mobile phones

in Chernobyl town there are the scientific laboratories where more than 100 scientists are still working studying the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster

The nuclear power plant in Chernobyl. A worker involved in the costruction of the new safe confinement. A consortium of western companies built the mobile arch, which was installed in November 2016 over the old sarcophagus.

Administrative offices in the city of Chernobyl. Ukrainian state agency for the management of the exclusion zone, centre for security and technical organization and information.

The Chernobyl plant with the old sarcophagus, two months prior to the installation of the new safe confinement

The house of culture in Chernobyl town. An audience member waits for the beginning of a theatre show

Chernobyl town, Yuriy and Valeri meet up sometimes at Valeri's house to spend the evening together.

two customers at a bar in Chernobyl town

Entrance to a mini-market in Chernobyl town