Territory of the Chernobyl zone. Chernobyl zone. Belarusian segment. Tragedy for Europe

Some time ago I returned from a four-day trip to the Chernobyl exclusion zone. It just so happened that I didn’t want to pay a lot of money for the opportunity to sit on a bus with a boring guide and tourists who are taken along the usual route, but to get to Pripyat on my own.

The exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is a territory prohibited for free access, subject to intense contamination by long-lived radionuclides as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The Chernobyl zone includes the north of the Ivankovsky district of the Kiev region, where the power plant itself, the cities of Chernobyl and Pripyat are located, the north of the Polessky district of the Kiev region (including the village of Polesskoe and the village of Vilcha), as well as part of the Zhytomyr region up to the border with Belarus.

A border settlement that is relatively convenient for illegal entry into the ChEZ is the village of “Gubin” not far from Dityatki. The perimeter is a control strip about 15 meters wide with one row of barbed wire. Thus, it is not particularly difficult for an outsider to enter the Zone. (in fact, the wire is not to keep people out, but to prevent anything from escaping from there!).

Having gone deeper into the forest, I walked quite briskly through a thick carpet of needles and moss. Later it will become clear that the best strategy is to follow the clearings, but for now we had to break through. At the same time, the compass was a little cloudy and the trajectory was not the most direct. From time to time we encountered monster trees. The average background was 30–40 microroentgen/hour. The closer we got to the center of the zone, the more crippled trees like this appeared. I'm not sure there is any direct connection here.

As in any forest, a wild number of mosquitoes and midges awaited us in the zone. In addition, we met a large number of wild animals and their traces (paw prints or piles of droppings, for example). The absence of people allowed the animals to breed well, so one of the main dangers facing an illegal tourist is encountering wild animals.

Most forests are artificial, planted in even rows, separated by clearings. The clearings are fresh in some places, littered with debris and branches in others. The places are stunningly beautiful.

The first settlement is Yampol. 25 years since the Chernobyl accident have done their job - now this place is inhabited by different owners. Houses, sidewalks, lampposts, entire streets - everything is in the power of plants. Methodically and slowly, nature turned the achievements of civilization into smithereens. According to some information, a self-settler settled in the village long ago - an old man with dogs. However, walking along the outskirts of the village, we did not encounter any signs of life, with the exception of several long-standing “stalker” sites, and we didn’t really want to get acquainted with a feral person. You can still live in many houses...

Many houses have a real stove inside, and in some places the lining and some of the interior have even been preserved. In a forest nearby we stopped for the first night, pitching a tent in the thicket of the forest. The dosimeter readings show slight deviations from the norm. Therefore, you can allow yourself to rest a little and take photographs in the village - and then hit the road. The only thing that kept me from relaxing was the heavy traffic of cars on the road.

The first serious obstacle is the bridge over the Uzh River. Just 100 meters of straight road with excellent visibility, extremely heavy traffic and zero chance of jumping into the bushes. After a short respite, the bridge was crossed.

By the way, there are actually two bridges, they are just parallel. One is older, with the remains of spotlights on the sides, the second is newer. And the water in the Uzh River is amazingly clean. The bottom is soft, pleasant sand. The background radiation is only 51 microroentgens/h, so you just want to take a swim. A place of wondrous beauty.

Having crossed the bridge, the group approached the village of Cherevach. Next to it there is a fire tower, which at first they wanted to climb to conduct reconnaissance on the ground, but suddenly it turned out to be inhabited and everyone had to hide behind an abandoned village house covered with vines. The grapes produced only 37 µR/h, so I sharpened a sprig of ripe fruit. Chernobyl grapes - yum-yum!

After passing Cherevach, we came to the village of Zapolye, where we stopped for lunch. The stew, heated on the burner, was pleasantly brightened by local apples with a relatively low background.

Immediately after the village there is a local cemetery. Many crosses look very fresh, although they have not been restored since the Chernobyl accident.

On the road from the cemetery, on the side of the road, a severed head of a doll hangs on a tree branch. It is unclear who did this and why, but it looks very creepy.

Far away in the field is a herd of Przewalski's horses. In the early 1990s, several horses were released as an experiment into the Ukrainian exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, where they began to actively reproduce. Now there are about a hundred of them there, three herds. They are absolutely free, they can be safely called truly wild horses. No genetic abnormalities or other mutations were recorded. They say that before they were not at all afraid of people, but this was prevented by poachers who loved to shoot gullible horses.

Looking ahead, I will say that in the Zone I saw everything: two herds of horses, a fox, wolf and bear tracks and droppings, squirrels, snakes (two of them), a herd of wild boars and a hare. In addition, the forest was full of elk, deer, and a couple of bloodsuckers, but they were sucked into the anomaly.

Towards evening we went out onto the concrete road, which led to the main goal of our journey. There it is, looming on the horizon. Here, not far from the road, we camped for the second night, pitched a tent, had dinner and went to bed.

In the morning it immediately became clear that we had made the right choice of place. A yellow shield with peeling paint warned that something mega-interesting was located further down.

And so it happened. The main goal of our trip is the Duga over-the-horizon radar.

25 years ago it was a top secret facility - a pearl of space reconnaissance and a military dream, which made it possible to monitor the movement of all types of above-ground targets not only over Europe, but also provided the opportunity to “see” missile launches of a potential enemy on the North American continent. With the help of the most powerful and ultra-modern (at that time) radars, the military was able, in the literal sense of the word, to look beyond the horizon. Obviously, thanks to such abilities, this complex received the name - over-the-horizon radar stations (ZGRLS) or “Duga-1” (Chernobyl-2 Long-Range Communications Radio Center). The unique capabilities of the radar were hidden in the innovative ideas of the designers, which were embodied in masts and receiving antennas of gigantic dimensions. It is difficult to talk about the exact geometric dimensions of the ZGRLS. Publicly available data is inconsistent and likely inaccurate.

The cost of investment was seven billion Soviet rubles. For comparison, this is twice as expensive as the construction of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Obviously, the construction of the ZGRLS near the nuclear power plant was explained by the large energy consumption of the facility. According to available information, the ZGRLS consumed about 10 megawatts.

Along the line of antennas there is a technical building where the receiving equipment was once located. About 300 meters in length.

We climb out the window and get even closer to the antennas!

They are huge and simply amazing. A place absolutely wild in terms of energy stands under the scorching heat in complete silence. Once upon a time, for the characteristic sound on air made during operation (knock), the station was named Russian Woodpecker.

It sounds like this:

The radar operated in the frequency range 5–28 MHz. The antennas are built on the principle of a phased array antenna. Since one antenna could not cover such a wide frequency band, the entire range was divided into two sub-bands and two antenna arrays were also installed. Thus, the height of the low-frequency antenna masts is from 135 to 150 meters, and the length is from 300 to 500 meters. The high-frequency antenna is somewhat more modest. About 250 meters in length and up to 100 meters in height. With such an amazing size, the object is visible from almost anywhere in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

The ZGRLS in the city of Chernobyl-2 was intended only for signal reception. The transmitting center was located near the city of Lyubech, Chernigov region, which is 60 km from Chernobyl-2. The transmitting antennas were also built on the principle of a phased array antenna and were smaller and lower, its height was 85 meters. This radar has now been destroyed. The picture shows a diagonal view of the receiving antenna.

Having looked at the radar, we climb out of the perimeter of Chernobyl-2 and go through clearings to Pripyat. After a few hours we reach the top of a hill with a wonderful and exciting view.

Here the planted pine forest periodically intersects with such wastelands. Background - 250–300 µR/h.

Having crossed the field, we go deeper into the forest. The legs are already buried in the moss, sagging by 10 centimeters under the weight of the body. The moss here is also radioactive and is a good signal for “spots” with an increased background. In general, in the forest the background is 2–2.5 times higher than in wastelands.

Both in the forest and in the fields there are remains of canals for reclamation. A narrow strip of water 4 meters wide is in fact a difficult obstacle to overcome. There is no desire to wade through muddy, foggy water. We searched for a suitable crossing for about an hour and finally found a successfully fallen tree.

After the usual forest, we enter Ryzhiy, or rather the place where it once was. The Red Forest is about 10 km² of trees adjacent to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which took on the largest share of the release of radioactive dust during the reactor explosion in 1986. The high dose of absorbed radiation led to the death of trees (mainly pine trees) and their coloring brown-red. In addition, at night, the glow of dead trees was observed (this was caused by the interaction of tree enzymes with radioactive particles), also caused by radioactive decay. During work to decontaminate the area, the forest was bulldozed and buried.

Now in the place of the Red Forest there is a wasteland with sand, planted with young spruce trees and a very strange, fenced area with a booth and a radio mast. At first the thought arose that these were the buried remains of a red forest, but they are located 400 meters to the west. Here the background really jumps, rising to 2200 µR/h right at the fence. This is 110 times higher than normal.

Perhaps there is something else lying here. The confusing thing is that the signs, fence and booth are completely new.

We quickly pass this bad place and go deeper into the forest again. We are already close to Pripyat - we are met by this worker with a poster.

Along the way, houses and dilapidated hangars begin to appear.

Here and there there are mounds with burials and warning signs stuck into them.

We pass the "Bridge of Death". One of the legends of the Zone is that the radiation level on this bridge on April 26, 1986 reached 500-600 roentgens per hour, i.e. One hour spent on this bridge could cost your life. But then people didn’t know anything; many, including children, went to the bridge to see what was happening at the station. Police posts were posted on both sides of the bridge. A radioactive cloud passed over the southern part of the bridge. Of the policemen on duty that day, none survived.

Overpass to Yanov station. Before the Chernobyl accident, the station belonged to the South-Western Railway. Passenger and cargo work was carried out at the station, adjacent to the access roads of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, ORS warehouses, oil depots and other enterprises of the city of Pripyat. Currently, one of the tracks passing through the station has been reconstructed and is used to support construction work on the construction of the Shelter-2 facility - a new sarcophagus for the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

We enter Pripyat. Currently, there is a lot of radioactive dust in the city, which fell from the destroyed power unit and consists of relatively long-lived radioactive elements. This dust collects in ditches and depressions. The dust has become firmly embedded in the soil, trees, and houses. The city is overgrown with Chernobyl grass, which grew in the surrounding area before the accident.

Announcement of evacuation from Pripyat.

We go up to the roof of the nine-story building closest to the station to look around. From here you have a magnificent view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Chernobyl sunset and the profile of the Jupiter plant against its background.

From the roof we notice a tall sixteen-story building in the city center and decide to move to it. There is some traffic along the central streets, a bus is driving, so you have to make your way through courtyards and alleys. Everything is very overgrown. In fact, there is little left of the city and Pripyat is just houses in the forest.

Here is our sixteen-story building. This is where we'll spend the night.

The front entrance is surrounded by greenery, but it is still not difficult to find. There is a lot of garbage everywhere, as the looters and iron workers did a good job after the accident - apartments were looted, metal was cut down.

We go up to the roof of the building to spend the night. It’s safe here, the Soviet coat of arms, a gorgeous view of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the background is only 40 microns per hour. Having risen, we hear an animal roar and chomping sounds at the foot of the building. Leaning over the edge of the roof, we see a herd of wild boars eating some roots and prowling the lawns. Thank God they can’t get up here, so we cook our last dinner in the Zone and go to bed.

As a person who visited the Zone illegally, I categorically do not recommend repeating this. This is a truly grueling journey with a serious risk of picking up radiation or being eaten by wild animals, and the wild boars I saw are further proof of this.

The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred more than 30 years ago. The destruction of the reactor led to a colossal release of radioactive substances into the environment. According to the official version, 31 people died in the first 3 months, and in subsequent years this figure approached one hundred. There is still some debate as to what caused the disaster. The consequences of what happened will be felt for many more decades, if not hundreds of years. After the accident, a 30-kilometer zone was established, from which almost the entire population was evacuated, and free movement was prohibited. This entire territory froze in 1986. Today we will look at the 7 most interesting objects in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Today Pripyat is not such a “dead city” - excursions are regularly organized there, and stalkers walk around. Pripyat is considered a Soviet open-air museum city. This abandoned place has retained the energy of the mid-80s, which attracts tourists from all over the world. We will look at some of the most interesting places in this city.

The Polesie Hotel was once the hallmark of Pripyat. It is located in the city center, next to an amusement park, which is clearly visible from its windows, and from the observation deck the main city square and the no less famous Energetik Palace of Culture are clearly visible. Climbing onto the roof becomes more and more dangerous every year, since it has not been in the best condition for a long time, but visitors to the Zone are drawn to touch the huge letters that make up the name of the hotel.

The emergency response headquarters was set up in the hotel building. From the hotel roof the 4th power unit is clearly visible, so it was possible to correct the actions of the helicopters that were putting out the fire.

In some rooms there are dilapidated interior items. In general, looters did a good job in Pripyat at one time. They took out equipment, furniture, cut off batteries and took away everything that had at least some value, without even thinking that all this could cause great harm to health.

Paradoxically, even today the hotel receives tourists who, of course, do not come there to rent a room. They admire the views of Pripyat, get acquainted with the features of Soviet apartments and are amazed at the trees that grow through the floor.

This artificial reservoir was created to cool the station's reactors. The cooling pond is located on the site of an abandoned quarry, several small lakes and the old bed of the Pripyat River. The depth of this reservoir reaches 20 m. A dam divides it in the middle for better circulation of cold and warm water.

Today the cooling pond is located 6 meters above the level of the Pripyat River, and maintaining it in this condition is costly. Taking into account the fact that the station is no longer operating, the water level is gradually reduced, and over time the reservoir is completely planned to drain. This causes concern among many, because at the bottom there is a lot of debris from the reactor of the fourth power unit, highly active fuel elements and radiation dust. However, negative consequences can be avoided if the gradual decrease in water level is correctly calculated so that the bare areas of the bottom have time to acquire vegetation that will prevent the rise of radioactive dust.

By the way, the Chernobyl NPP cooling pond is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in Europe.

The condition of the pond is constantly monitored in order to assess how its ecosystem has suffered from radiation exposure. Although the diversity of living creatures has decreased, it has not disappeared completely. Today, it is quite possible to catch a normal-looking fish in a pond, but it is not recommended to eat it.

DK Energetik

Let's return to the center of Pripyat. The main square of the city is overlooked by the Energetik Palace of Culture, which, along with the Polesie Hotel, is a must-see.

It is logical to assume that all the cultural activities of the city. Circles gathered here, concerts and performances were held, and discos were held in the evenings. The building had its own gym, library and cinema. The recreation center was a favorite place for the youth of Pripyat.

Today you can still find the remains of the marble tiles that lined the building, stained glass windows and mosaics. Despite the destruction, the building still retains that famous spirit of the Soviet era.

City amusement park in Pripyat

Perhaps the most famous attraction of Pripyat is the city amusement park with its Ferris wheel. It is worth noting that this one of the most contaminated places in the city, but once upon a time in the park, enthusiastic children's voices were heard every now and then.

Cars, swings, carousels, boats and other attributes of the amusement park will never be used for their intended purpose, but among numerous tourists and stalkers they are popular as a kind of attraction.

Ferris wheel managed to become a symbol of the already deserted Pripyat. Interestingly, it was never put into operation. It was supposed to open on May 1, 1986, but 5 days before that there was an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant...

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

Today, for a certain amount of money, you can visit the territory of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant itself. There you will see how it goes construction of the "Arch", which should cover the 4th power unit along with the old sarcophagus. In the power plant building itself, you can walk along the “golden corridor”, get acquainted with the reactor control panel, and also find out how the Chernobyl nuclear power plant worked in general. Regular excursions are limited only to tourists staying near the station.

Of course, illegal travelers cannot penetrate into the heart of the Zone - everything is reliably guarded. However, the station and the “Arch” under construction are clearly visible from the high-rise buildings of Pripyat. Every self-respecting stalker is sure to capture a photo of the view of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

By the way, about 4,000 people now work at the station. They are engaged in the construction of the Arch and work on decommissioning power units.

Red forest

This area of ​​forest, located not far from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, during the accident took on the largest share of radioactive dust, which led to the death of trees and coloring of their foliage brown-red. It is noteworthy that the enzymes of the trees reacted with radiation, which is why a glow was observed in the forest at night. As part of the decontamination, the Red Forest was demolished and buried. Today the trees are growing again, of course, already having a normal color.

However, today there are young pines with signs of mutations. This can be expressed in excessive or, conversely, insufficient branching. Some trees, having reached the age of about 20 years, were never able to grow above 2 meters. The needles on pine trees can also look intricate: they can be elongated, shortened, or completely absent.

By the way, the remaining power units were still operating for some time. The last one was turned off in 2000.

An unpleasant feeling may arise from the burial grounds where the demolished trees were buried. Mounds and branches sticking out of the ground evoke unpleasant associations for many.

The remains of unburied trees are also of interest. This view clearly demonstrates how nature can suffer from human activity. This area is perhaps one of the saddest places in the Exclusion Zone.

Arc

The object is represented by a huge complex of antennas. This radar station performed the task of detecting launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Our military could see the American missile, actually looking over the horizon. Hence the name "Arc". To ensure the operation of the complex, about 1000 people were needed, which is why a small town was organized for the military and their families. And so it arose object "Chernobyl-2". Before the accident, the installation was used for only a few years, and after that it was abandoned.

The radar antennas are of Soviet engineering. According to some reports, the construction of “Duga” cost twice as much as the creation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Western countries were not happy with this installation. They constantly complained that it interfered with civil aviation. Interestingly, “Duga” created a characteristic knocking sound on the air, for which it was nicknamed “Russian Woodpecker.”

The height of the antennas reaches 150 m, and the length of the entire building is about 500 m. Due to its impressive size the installation is visible from almost anywhere in the Zone.

Nature is gradually destroying the buildings of the Chernobyl-2 facility. But the “Duga” itself will still stand for more than one year, unless, of course, the Ukrainian authorities (or some others) want to waste tons of contaminated metal, as happened with the fleet of vehicles that were involved in eliminating the consequences of the accident...

Many stalker-roofers, not afraid of the guards who patrol those places, climb as high as possible onto one of the antennas and capture Chernobyl landscapes in photos.

In the well-known series of games S.T.A.L.K.E.R. there is a so-called “Brain Burner” installation, with which “Arc” is associated, which further attracts adventurers.

Conclusion

The Chernobyl exclusion zone is undoubtedly a unique place on Earth, a kind of piece of the Soviet Union in the 21st century. It is very sad that the city of Pripyat was thoroughly plundered by looters - they could have at least left the finishing intact, but no - they even pulled out the wiring. However, it is important for today's generation to view the Zone not as a tourist attraction or a place where you can see places from the games, but as a reminder that our scientific achievements can leave scars on Earth that will take centuries to heal.

Good day to all!
I thought for a long time about which photo story to post here first. And I came to the conclusion that it is better with a kind of thematic classic, namely the ChEZ. I hope readers will learn something new from my story about this infamous place and rather extensive topic.

The first time I found myself in the Zone was in February 2009. When I finish this story, I’ll definitely compare it.
So here it is. The first two times I went there solely in search of new impressions and with the goal of understanding what the Zone is and what is interesting and grotesque in it. The third time - already partly as if I were in my own environment, which beckons, plus in order to try myself as an organizer on these trips. On the fourth, at the moment the last one, I went to visit my relatives. Touch, communicate and reflect. Well, take pictures, of course :)

During the trip I noticed that very few people know the so-called. materiel for events and components of the Zone. Therefore, I will use encyclopedic information as comments. And also because my own impressions have become completely personal.

Due to the large number of places we visited, lack of time and some force majeure, it was not possible to film something separate and complete. And what happened is in front of you.

Checkpoint "DITYATKI".

Border of the 30-kilometer Zone.

2.
Checkpoint "Dityatki".

Checkpoint "Dityatki"

CHERNOBYL.
Chernobyl (Ukrainian Chornobil, apparently a derivative of the plant “Chernobylnik”, wormwood) is a city in the Ivankovsky district of the Kyiv region of Ukraine.
Chernobyl is located on the Pripyat River, not far from its confluence with the Kiev Reservoir.
Infamous due to the Chernobyl accident (1986). Before the accident, 12.5 thousand people lived in the city. Currently, only employees of institutions and enterprises of the Exclusion Zones and unconditional guaranteed resettlement of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant live in the city (they work on a rotation basis) and self-settlers. The physical distance to Kyiv is 83 km, by road - 115 km.
In the 1970s, the first nuclear power plant in Ukraine was built 10 km from Chernobyl.
In 1985, the Duga over-the-horizon radar was put into operation - a Chernobyl-2 facility.
On April 26, 1986, an accident occurred at the fourth power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which became the largest disaster in the history of nuclear energy. All residents of the city were evacuated after this, but some subsequently returned to their homes and are now living in the contaminated area.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, it became part of independent Ukraine.
In 2006, the American non-profit research organization Blacksmith Institute published a list of the most polluted places on the planet, in which Chernobyl was in the top ten.
The city of Chernobyl is the Administrative Center for the management of radiation-hazardous territories alienated in 1986. The emergency decision to alienate land was caused by significant radioactive contamination of the territories adjacent to the nuclear power plant. Three controlled zones were introduced:
- special zone (directly the Chernobyl NPP industrial site);
- 10-kilometer;
- 30-kilometer (Chernobyl is located 9.5 km from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant).
Strict radiation monitoring of transport was organized in them, and decontamination points were deployed. At the borders of the zones, the transfer of working people from one vehicle to another is organized to reduce the transfer of radioactive substances.
The main enterprises engaged in work to maintain the zone in an environmentally safe condition are based in the city. Including enterprises that monitor the radiation state of the 30-km exclusion zone - the content of radionuclides in the water of the Pripyat River and its tributaries, as well as in the air, is monitored.
Personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine are based in the city, guarding the territory of the 30-km zone and monitoring illegal entry of unauthorized persons into its territory.
26 years after the Chernobyl accident, constant exposure to low doses of radiation continues to negatively affect nature in the 30-kilometer special zone around the nuclear power plant - there are fewer birds and insects (the higher the radiation level, the fewer insects).
According to other scientists, wildlife in the special zone, on the contrary, is thriving, since the effects of radiation are offset by the absence of damage from human activity. The level of radiation in the zone was life-threatening only in the first year or two, and over ten years it decreased by 1000-10000 times.

The monument “Tim, Who Vryatuvae Svit” was built in honor of the 10th anniversary of the tragedy at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant by the forces and means of firefighters consisting of: Sandroimo O.V., Simonov M.O., Yatsenko S.A., Shenkevich V.I. When preparing the stele, we first welded the frame from metal rods. Then they put it in formwork and filled it with concrete. Once the concrete had hardened, the surfaces were sanded. The stele was placed on the pedestal using a truck crane. The frame for the ribbons encircling the stellas was assembled from polystyrene foam and then filled with mortar. A water shut-off valve was found in one of the courtyards, brought in and also filled with a thin layer of concrete. All the figures were sculpted on the parade ground. First, they made wire frames and put a rough layer of cement on them. Then the guys started detailing and sculpting faces, arms, legs, torsos, and clothes. For the ventilation pipe of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, we picked up a scrap left over from the installation of the city heating main. We didn’t look for fire hoses; we had enough of our own. The pedestal of the monument was placed in advance on pipes in the courtyard. When everything was collected, they took the monument out of the gate like on ice skating rinks. By that time, the site had been leveled and compacted with a bulldozer. Finally, with the help of the same bulldozer, tractor and truck crane, the monument was installed in place.

PRIPYAT.
Pripyat (Ukrainian Prip'yat) is an abandoned city in the north of Ukraine, in the Kyiv region.
The city is located on the banks of the Pripyat River, 3 km from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, not far from the border with Belarus. The distance to Kyiv is 94 km.
Founded on February 4, 1970.
Pripyat received the status of a city in 1979 on the basis of resolution of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR No. 1264/686.
The general reason for the founding of the city was the construction and subsequent operation of one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe, Chernobyl - the city-forming enterprise, which gave Pripyat the title of a city of nuclear scientists. Pripyat became the ninth nuclear city in the Soviet Union.
According to the last census conducted before the evacuation (in November 1985), the population was 47 thousand 500 people, more than 25 nationalities. The annual population growth at that time was over 1,500 people, among whom about 800 were newborns, and approximately 500-600 people who arrived for permanent residence from different regions of the Soviet Union.
The projected, initially calculated population is 75-78 thousand people.
The nearby Yanov railway station on the Chernigov-Ovruch section, a river shipping pier on the Pripyat River, and highways turned the city of Pripyat into a convenient hub for Polesie transport routes.
The population of Pripyat was evacuated on April 27, 1986 due to the Chernobyl accident. A new satellite town of Slavutich, 50 km from the nuclear power plant, was built to accommodate the Chernobyl NPP maintenance personnel. Now Pripyat is located in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Administratively, the urban area is part of the Ivankovsky district of the Kyiv region.
After the accident, work was carried out to decontaminate the city, which led to a significant decrease in background radiation.
Currently, there is a lot of radioactive dust in the city, which fell from the destroyed power unit and consists of relatively long-lived radioactive elements. This dust collects in ditches and depressions. The dust has become firmly embedded in the soil, trees, and houses. To the south of the city there is the so-called red forest, demolished during the decontamination of Pripyat and the surrounding area, but now the forest is being restored and absorbs radiation from the ground. The city is overgrown with Chernobyl grass, which grew in the surrounding area before the accident. Under the influence of the environment, empty buildings are gradually falling into disrepair; cases of collapse have already been recorded (in 2005, the building of the former school No. 1 collapsed). After decontamination, some city buildings and structures were used by various organizations of the Exclusion Zone, but today almost all of them are abandoned. At the moment (2012), only a few facilities operate on the territory of Pripyat - a special laundry, a station for deferrization and water fluoridation, a garage for special equipment, and a checkpoint at the entrance to the city.
Unlike other settlements in the Chernobyl zone, the cities of Pripyat and Chernobyl were not deprived of the status of settlements. Pripyat is formally considered a city of regional significance, subordinate to the Kyiv Regional Council, since it does not have its own city council.
Transportation of Chernobyl NPP workers between the Slavutich and Semikhody stations is provided by 5 pairs of electric trains N901-910.

From here there were regular voyages of hydrofoil ships such as "Raketa", "Kometa", "Meteor" to Kyiv and Mozyr.

15.

16.
Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

17.
Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

18.
Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

Pripyat. On the territory of the Jupiter plant.

S. KOPACHI.
Kopachi is an abandoned village 4 km from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on the right bank of the Pripyat River in the Ivankovsky district of the Kyiv region. Time zone - Eastern European Time (EET) (UTC+2), Summer - (UTC+3).
It developed rapidly in the 1980s. After the accident at the station on April 26, 1986, the village was heavily polluted, liquidated through complete destruction and specially covered with earth. It is located in the 10-kilometer Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exclusion zone. At the moment the territory is not inhabited. The village has become a favorite place for various animals. At a distance of 1800 m from Unit 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It is located near Yanov (village).

21.

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant named after V.I. Lenin, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is the first shut down Ukrainian nuclear power plant, known in connection with the accident that occurred on April 26, 1986.
The official modern name is the State Specialized Enterprise Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (SSE Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant). The station is subordinate to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine; in 2005, Igor Ivanovich Gramotkin was appointed General Director.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is located in the eastern part of the Belarusian-Ukrainian Polesie in northern Ukraine, 11 km from the border with Belarus, on the banks of the Pripyat River, which flows into the Dnieper. To the west of the three-kilometer sanitary protection zone of the nuclear power plant is the abandoned city of Pripyat, 18 km southeast of the station is the former regional center - the abandoned city of Chernobyl, 110 km to the south - the city of Kyiv.
The first stage of the Chernobyl NPP (the first and second power units with RBMK-1000 reactors) was built in 1970-1977, the second stage (the third and fourth power units with similar reactors) was built on the same site by the end of 1983. In 1981, 1.5 km southeast of the first-second stage site, construction began on the third stage - the fifth and sixth power units with the same reactors, which was stopped after an accident at the fourth power unit with a high degree of readiness of the facilities.
Directly in the valley of the Pripyat River to the southeast of the nuclear power plant site, to ensure cooling of the turbine condensers and other heat exchangers of the first four power units, a free-flowing cooling pond with an area of ​​22 km² was built at a level exceeding the water level in the Pripyat River by 7 m and 3.5 m below NPP site planning marks. To ensure cooling of the heat exchangers of the third stage, it was planned to use cooling towers being built next to the fifth and sixth blocks under construction.
The design generating capacity of the Chernobyl NPP was 6000 MW; as of April 1986, four power units with RBMK-1000 reactors with a total generating capacity of 4000 MW were in operation. At the time of the accident, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, along with Leningrad and Kursk, was the most powerful in the USSR (According to the IAEA, the launch of the fourth power unit of the Kursk nuclear power plant took place in February 1986, and it was just reaching its design capacity). According to unconfirmed information, it was planned to commission up to 12 reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
After 23 years and one day of operation, the station stopped generating electricity on December 15, 2000. Currently, work is underway to decommission the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and transform the fourth power unit destroyed as a result of the accident into an environmentally friendly system.

Accident on April 26, 1986, liquidation of consequences.
On April 26, 1986 at 1:23:59, during a design test of turbine generator No. 8 at power unit No. 4, an explosion occurred that completely destroyed the reactor. The power unit building and the roof of the turbine hall partially collapsed. More than 30 fires broke out in various rooms and on the roof. The main fires on the roof of the turbine room were extinguished by 2:10 a.m. and on the roof of the reactor compartment by 2:30 a.m. By 5 o'clock on April 26, the fire was extinguished.
After the fuel from the destroyed reactor was poisoned, at approximately 20:00 on April 26, a high-intensity fire broke out in different parts of the central hall of block 4. Due to the severe radiation situation and significant burning power, no efforts were made to extinguish this fire using standard means. Helicopter equipment was used to extinguish the fire and ensure subcriticality of the disorganized fuel.
In the first hours of the accident, the neighboring 3rd power unit was shut down, the equipment of the 4th power unit was shut down, and the condition of the emergency reactor was investigated.
As a result of the accident, there was a release into the environment, according to various estimates, of up to 14·1018 Bq, which is approximately 380 million curies of radioactive substances, including isotopes of uranium, plutonium, iodine-131, cesium-134, cesium-137, strontium- 90. Directly during the explosion at the fourth power unit, only one person died, another died in the morning from his injuries. On April 27, 104 victims were evacuated to Moscow Hospital No. 6. Subsequently, 134 Chernobyl NPP employees, members of fire and rescue teams developed radiation sickness, 28 of them died over the next few months.
To eliminate the consequences of the accident, by order of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, a government commission was created, the chairman of which was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR B. E. Shcherbina. The bulk of the work was carried out in 1986-1987, involving approximately 240,000 people. The total number of liquidators (including subsequent years) was about 600,000. In the early days, the main efforts were aimed at reducing radioactive emissions from the destroyed reactor and preventing even more serious consequences.
Then work began to clean up the area and bury the destroyed reactor. The debris scattered throughout the territory of the nuclear power plant and on the roof of the turbine room was removed inside the sarcophagus or concreted. Around the 4th block they began to construct a concrete “sarcophagus” (the so-called “Shelter” object). During the construction of the “sarcophagus”, over 400 thousand m³ of concrete was laid and 7,000 tons of metal structures were installed. Its construction was completed and, according to the State Acceptance Commission Act, the mothballed fourth power unit was accepted for maintenance on November 30, 1986. By Order No. 823 of October 26, the reactor workshop of the fourth block was organized for the operation of the systems and equipment of the Shelter facility.
On May 22, 1986, by resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 583, the commissioning date for power units No. 1 and 2 of the Chernobyl NPP was set as October 1986. Decontamination was carried out in the premises of the power units of the first stage; on July 15, 1986, its first stage was completed.
In August, at the second stage of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, communications common to the 3rd and 4th units were cut, and a concrete dividing wall was erected in the turbine room.
After the work was completed to modernize the plant's systems, provided for by the measures approved by the USSR Ministry of Energy on June 27, 1986 and aimed at improving the safety of nuclear power plants with RBMK reactors, on September 18, permission was received to begin the physical start-up of the reactor of the first power unit. On October 1, 1986, the first power unit was launched and at 16:47 it was connected to the network. On November 5, power unit No. 2 was launched.
On November 24, 1987, the physical start-up of the reactor of the third power unit began; the power start-up took place on December 4. On December 31, 1987, by decision of the Government Commission No. 473, the act of acceptance into operation of the 3rd power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant after repair and restoration work was approved.
Construction of the 5th and 6th blocks was stopped with a high degree of readiness of the facilities. There was an opinion on the advisability of completing the construction and commissioning of the 5th unit, which had insignificant levels of radiation contamination, instead of carrying out large-scale decontamination of the 3rd unit for its further operation. As of 1987, a third of the capital investments in Unit 5 had been spent. On May 27, 1987, it was officially announced that the construction of the third stage would not continue.
On April 27, the population of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant satellite city of Pripyat and residents of settlements in a 10-kilometer zone were evacuated. In the following days, the population of other settlements within the 30-kilometer zone was evacuated.
On October 2, 1986, a decision was made to build a new city for permanent residence of workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and members of their families after the Chernobyl accident - Slavutych. On March 26, 1988, the first warrant for occupancy of apartments was issued.
As a result of the accident, about 5 million hectares of land were withdrawn from agricultural use, a 30-kilometer exclusion zone was created around the nuclear power plant, hundreds of small settlements were destroyed and buried, about 200,000 people were evacuated from contaminated areas.
The accident was assessed at level 7 of the INES scale.

On September 22, 1997, the reorganization of the Chernobyl NPP PA and its inclusion in the structural division of NNEGC Energoatom began. On April 25, 2001, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was reorganized into the State Specialized Enterprise Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and on July 15, 2005, it was transferred to the management of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ukraine.
On February 17, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR and the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR determined the deadline for decommissioning the power units of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1991; on May 17, the Council of Ministers of the USSR issued an order to develop a program for decommissioning the power units.
On August 2 of the same year, the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR declared a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants and on increasing the capacity of existing ones for a period of five years.
The fire on October 11, 1991 at the second power unit served as the basis for the decision of the Supreme Council of Ukraine to immediately close the second power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as to close the first and third power units in 1993. However, already in 1993, the 1990 moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants was lifted ahead of schedule and, at the proposal of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, a decision was made to continue operation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant for a period determined by its technical condition.
Under the influence of the world community and the obligations assumed, the final decision was made to decommission the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. By a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 22, 1997, it was recognized as expedient to carry out early decommissioning of power unit No. 1, which was shut down on November 30, 1996.
By a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 15, 1999, it was recognized as expedient to carry out early decommissioning of power unit No. 2, which was shut down after the accident in 1991.
On December 11, 1998, the Law of Ukraine was adopted, which determined the specifics of legal relations during the further operation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the early decommissioning of power units, the transformation of the destroyed fourth power unit into an environmentally safe system, as well as the protection of personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
On March 29, 2000, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine made a decision on the early decommissioning of power unit No. 3 and the final closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant[by the end of 2000. In April, by Decree of the President of Ukraine, an Interdepartmental (Governmental) Commission was created for a comprehensive solution to the problems of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
By decree of the President of Ukraine dated September 25, an Organizing Committee was created for the preparation and conduct of events related to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Closure Act. In the Measures for the closure of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant approved on October 19, 2000 by the President of Ukraine, as well as in the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 29, the deadline for the final shutdown and transfer to decommissioning mode of the 3rd unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is determined - 12:00 on December 15, 2000.
On December 5, parliamentary hearings were held with the participation of foreign representatives in connection with the closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. On the eve of the closure, on December 14, 2000, the President of Ukraine L. D. Kuchma made a working visit to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. During a meeting with the station staff, the President assured that not a single employee would be left without social protection. The adopted Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 29 “On measures for social protection of workers of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and residents of the city of Slavutich in connection with the closure of the station” defined a set of measures to mitigate social consequences.
From December 5, 2000, the reactor's power was gradually reduced in preparation for shutdown. On December 14, the reactor operated at 5% power for the shutdown ceremony and on December 15, 2000 at 13:17 by order of the President of Ukraine during the broadcast of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant - National Palace "Ukraine" teleconference by turning the emergency protection key of the fifth level (AZ-5) reactor of the power unit No. 3 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was shut down forever, and the station stopped generating electricity.
On December 15, 2000, a fundamentally new stage began for the Chernobyl NPP team - the period of decommissioning of shutdown power units, which is an important link in the entire life cycle of any nuclear power plant. To accomplish this task, by decision of the government, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was removed from the Energoatom company and transformed into a state-owned specialized enterprise. Based on the repair service of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the Atomremontservice enterprise was created as part of Energoatom, where today 730 people work, more than three hundred of whom are former employees of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The training and emergency center of the Energoatom company, created on the basis of the emergency response management of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, is also staffed mainly by former Chernobyl NPP employees.

Construction began in the spring of 2012.
The planned completion date is 2015.
The new shelter (sometimes incorrectly called a confinement) would isolate the destroyed reactor from the environment and become a disposal site for the reactor's radioactive waste.
Project cost 740 million euros.

25.
Chernobyl NPP. Sculpture "Prometheus" (foreground), Memorial to liquidators of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident (background).

Unfinished 5th and 6th power units of the Chernobyl NPP named after. Lenin, which were never put into operation.
The fifth unit was planned to be commissioned in 1987, and the sixth in 1989. After the accident, work was frozen and then completely canceled.

SETTING PLANT FOR CONTAMINED EQUIPMENT.

POS. YANOV.
Yanov, (Ukrainian Yaniv) is a village in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, part of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Due to radiation contamination as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the residents of the village were resettled on April 27, 1986. Due to the impossibility of effective decontamination, most buildings were destroyed and buried. Deregistered on April 1, 2003.
Located south of the city of Pripyat.
There is a railway station in Janov.
Yanov, as a settlement, has been mentioned in historical documents since the 18th century. According to available data, in 1986 the population of the village was about one hundred residents.
During the development of the success of the Chernigov-Pripyat operation on October 3-15, 1943, bloody battles took place in the area of ​​​​the village of Yanov. In the village there is a memorial where the fallen liberator soldiers are buried. Among them is Hero of the Soviet Union, guard machine gunner Sergeant Nikolai Andreevich Petrov.

IMR-2M2 is a perfect and promising engineering barrier clearance vehicle. She can carry out all types of work in conditions of radioactive contamination of the area, severe damage to the atmosphere by aggressive gases, vapors, toxic substances, smoke, dust and direct fire exposure. Its reliability has been confirmed during the liquidation of the consequences of the most monumental disasters of our time and in the combat conditions of Afghanistan. IMR-2M2 is available not only in the military sphere, but also in the civilian sphere, where the use of its universal capabilities guarantees great benefits. It is equally effective both as an engineering barrier vehicle and as a rescue vehicle.
For these machines, there is powerful multifunctional bulldozer equipment, the mine-sweeping equipment of which is successfully complemented by a universal working element (URO), which replaced the traditional pincer grip. The URO allows you to take and hold even objects whose dimensions are comparable to the size of a matchbox (for example, radioactive fragments). It has the capabilities of a manipulator, capable of working as a grab, backhoe, shovel, scraper and ripper.

"AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT"

42.
"Agricultural machinery".

"Agricultural machinery".

43.
"Agricultural machinery".

"Agricultural machinery".

44.
"Agricultural machinery".

"Agricultural machinery".

45.
"Agricultural machinery".

The sections could have been placed in a more logical and sequential manner. However, let them be in the order of our visit, as this also shapes the impression and mood.
I hope you found it interesting.

I thank the organizers of the trip and my companions.
Further more!

Information from websites was used.

This phrase terrifies and at the same time arouses interest among millions of people around the world. Exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Movies, games and books on this topic are becoming hits. But not everyone knows where the boundaries of the zone lie. Let's try to figure it out and find out how things are now in the infected areas.

History of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

For a whole year, the designers were looking for a place for construction. Finally, near and not far from the Yanov station, unproductive lands were discovered. In 1970, V.P. was appointed director of the nuclear power plant. Bryukhanov and preparations for construction begin. A total of 4 power units are planned to be put into operation. While the construction of the station is underway, all the people involved in the project live in the nearby villages. At this time, the construction of a new city three kilometers from the station is in full swing.

Pripyat

The beautiful picturesque place promised to become a new home for 50 thousand people. The architects tried to turn a simple working-class town into a real resort. Many trees and green bushes surrounded multi-story buildings and recreation areas. A large park in the city center promised to become the most popular place and attract young children with fun attractions. To provide work for all residents, a huge Jupiter plant was built. People could always find a place in various enterprises.

The young city quickly became overgrown with shops and entertainment venues. The Prometheus cinema was open every day, and residents could go to a screening of a new film at any time. The Energetik cultural center was built for versatile and talented individuals. Amateur activities were encouraged and the club constantly ran clubs for children and adults. Its own palace of arts invited all art connoisseurs to visit the exhibition halls. Construction of the Palace of Pioneers and a new large cinema were in full swing. These buildings were not put into operation before the beautiful city became an exclusion zone for the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Sports city

The population of Pripyat consisted mainly of young people. The average age is 26 years. A lot of attention was paid to sports at that time. In connection with this, a huge stadium was built where football matches were held. On weekends, the stands were filled with residents and guests. There were several football teams in the city - youth and adult teams competed in the art of ball possession. Later another stadium was built. There were three swimming pools for water sports enthusiasts. It is worth noting that in such a relatively small city there were as many as 10 gyms. Young people had a large choice and many opportunities to spend their free time usefully.

All the best for children

Much attention was paid to the little residents of Pripyat. 15 kindergartens, designed taking into account all possible requirements, opened their doors to 4980 children every day. Preschool institutions were provided with everything necessary and were maintained at the highest level. There were only five high schools, but this was enough for the young city. Each school had its own swimming pool and gym. 35 playgrounds were built for entertainment. Each district had a colorful town where children came to play and socialize with their peers.

The end of a fairy tale

On a warm April night in 1986, an explosion occurred. The residents did not pay attention to the slight vibrations in the ground and continued to sleep peacefully. At this time, a real apocalypse occurred at the station, which led to the formation of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The fourth reactor exploded after unsuccessful tests and was now actively releasing radioactive substances into the atmosphere. One worker died on the spot. The rest did not understand the danger and looked for comrades in the uranium hell. The fire brigade arrived within minutes, but after assessing the scale of the disaster, they were forced to admit that they were unable to cope with such a mission. They were able to prevent the fire from reaching the third block and prevented an even greater scale of the disaster. Reports of the tragedy flew to Moscow. All that remained was to wait for the decision of senior management.

Big deception

In the morning, rumors about a fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant spread throughout the city. The townspeople did not attach much importance to this event. No one knew that the fourth reactor exploded at night. People walked calmly around the city and enjoyed the warm April rays of the sun. Children fussed in sandboxes and roadside dust. And at this time, radioactive substances penetrated their bodies in order to later remind themselves of various diseases. The appearance of soldiers and equipment in the city also did not cause a violent reaction. An announcement came up in passing that you should close all the windows and take iodine. There was no fear. People did not know about the treachery and the invisible enemy, they were not afraid. On the first day after the accident, there was still no talk about the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Evacuation

After 36 hours, residents heard a message from the announcer. The entire city was subject to temporary evacuation. The population should have taken documents and the most necessary things. There was no panic, and people calmly boarded the buses, fully confident that they would soon return home. Having turned off the gas and water, they took a minimum of luggage and set off on a long journey. At this time, they were already driving around the city and washing off radioactive dust from the roads. No one was allowed to leave in personal transport or take pets with them. The area of ​​the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant covered not only Pripyat, but also several dozen villages. Residents were preparing to plant crops when the order came to evacuate.

Stripping

As soon as the last bus disappeared from sight, a massive cleanup began in the city. The police and military began to shoot the animals, going around all the houses along the way. They quickly found people who refused to leave their apartment and forcibly took them out of the city. There was a lot of work ahead. While robots and people in overalls cleared the roof of the reactor, responsible workers cleared the apartments. Refrigerators, sofas, televisions and washing machines were flying from the windows. What people bought for a lot of money now had to be buried. Huge pits were filled with household appliances and furniture. Cars and motorcycles were buried in a special place. If you now look at the photo of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, you can see colossal parks of abandoned military equipment. At the moment, all this stuff has been stolen and taken away, but at one time it was an impressive picture.

Borders of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

In the first days, clear boundaries were established - 30 km around the station. The nearby forest turned red in a matter of days, and the military had to bury not only human property, but also trees. It looked pretty wild, but it was a necessary measure. The villagers had to endure the worst. Their houses were demolished and also buried in the ground. Never before has humanity seen such terrible pictures. Many photos of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have forever preserved these incredible events. After some time, the people realized that they had been cruelly deceived and would never be allowed to return to their homes. Some tried to break through the checkpoints, but law enforcement officers kept a watchful eye on the situation. Now it is no longer a secret that the most valuable things and equipment were taken out of Pripyat and sold by valiant policemen and their assistants. Somewhere in apartments there are still objects standing and contaminating their new owners with radiation.

Video footage and photographs of the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at that time confirm the fact of looting on an unprecedented scale. While some heroes, at the cost of their health, threw graphite from the roof of the reactor, others threw other people's goods into cars and took them to sell. Both received certificates, gratitude and honors.

Animals in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant felt like real wild animals. They quickly became unaccustomed to people and went into the forest. Wild and free, they no longer allowed humans to approach them. Now wild cats roam the forests of Pripyat, and their population is increasing every year. Boars, hares, foxes and other animals underwent mutations, but survived the most terrible first years. Of course, their meat cannot be eaten, since they receive doses of radiation every day.

Secret objects in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

There is only one object in the contaminated area, which is still carefully guarded. It no longer represents any secrecy and is guarded for only one reason - there are too many people who want to dismantle the structure and sell the metal. ZGRLS at one time cost the Soviet Union 7 billion rubles and promised to serve faithfully for many decades. Thanks to this huge structure, the military could monitor the launch of missiles not only over Europe, but also over America. Its construction near the nuclear power plant was explained by the high consumption of electricity. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant itself cost the country twice as much as its neighbor, the reconnaissance plant. At the moment the building is rusting and standing idle.

Affected parties

Belarus took over most of the radioactive elements. The closest neighbor, which was located only 11 km from the nuclear power plant. Wind and precipitation in the first days after the accident created the Belarusian exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Photos from those years show how global the disaster was. 6.7 thousand sq. km. was recognized as a contaminated area and was subject to evacuation and resettlement. At the moment, 92 settlements belong to this group. Every year this figure is decreasing, but it is too early to talk about big changes.

Among the affected countries is Russia. In the Bryansk region, 4 villages were evacuated and 186 residents found refuge in other villages and cities. There are no other exclusion zones in Russia from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Several areas have been declared contaminated, but significant excesses of radiation standards are not currently observed.

Motherland

In recent years, more and more people have begun to return to their homes. Despite the fact that radiation levels are still high and living in the Chernobyl zone is life-threatening, people move into houses and live normal lives. Self-settlers, as they are called, start a farm and are not afraid to grow crops. Journalists with dosimeters regularly visit local residents. But the harsh Ukrainian villagers are not afraid of the crackling sound of the meter. They feel good and believe that their native land will never kill them. For guests, they are always ready to open a jar of pickled mushrooms or cucumbers from their own garden. But they are not offended if visitors refuse treats. They understand someone else's fear.

Most of those who returned are old people who once lived here and could not survive parting with their home. From the younger generation you can only meet people without a fixed place of residence and criminals released from prison. The villages in which they settle are included in the list of exclusion zones of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. But no one has been trying to evict them for a long time. They will still return and stubbornly stand for their houses and plots.

Games with death

After the release of the computer game S.T.A.L.K.E.R, many people appeared who wanted to visit the exclusion zone. Basically, these are young people and those who like to tickle their nerves. They make their way through the borders in a roundabout way and go for a walk through the houses and businesses of Pripyat. Often, they do not have any means of protection against radiation. There are still a lot of “dirty” spots in the city and its surroundings, and getting into them can seriously deteriorate your health. There are daredevils who climb the ZGRLS and observe the local beauty from there. Any awkward movement and it will be impossible to save such extreme sports enthusiasts. But this does not stop researchers. Even a fine does not deter desperate stalkers. It will be many more years before the exclusion zone becomes safe for people. But, most likely, no one will ever live there...