While the world is still firmly in the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic, April 26th marks the 35th anniversary of another catastrophe: The Chernobyl meltdown. It not only changed the lives of the people in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in a cruel way forever; even life all over Europe was no longer the same. The Chernobyl meltdown not only caused a huge radioactive cloud that rained down in large parts of Europe and contaminated lettuce, wild animals, milk, and mushrooms to this day—it also showed us how dangerous nuclear power really is and that we urgently need a turn out of nuclear power.
35 years ago, that sounded like an eternity away. But what are 35 years if the area will remain uninhabitable for the next 24,400 years?! What are 35 years if people still die as a result of the disaster today? It is not possible to determine the exact number of victims that died as a result of that meltdown: various organizations speak of 4,000 to 60,000 dead people. It is important to me to mention all these impacts before I tell you about my personal experiences, as the awareness of the disaster and the area has developed in the wrong direction because of the hype about the TV series and the self-expression of many tourists.
#1 Wild Nights
Café Pripyat was once known for the tastiest ice cream in town. On nice and sunny days, it had always been well-attended down to the last seat. I`m not sure whether there was still business here in the evening, but the artful glass facade still left a great impression on me at nighttime.
24points
The exclusion zone is certainly interesting, but it is and will remain a memorial where it is also necessary to pay respect to the victims and legacies. My interest in the disaster started to develop a long time before I got into photography. In general, I’ve always had a certain preference for meaningful and post-apocalyptic places, especially in combination with tragic events.
#2 Always Well Prepared
There are innumerable gas masks spread all over Pripyat. One might think that the main reason is the proximity to the Vladimir I. Lenin power plant, but indeed, it was not uncommon to have large amounts of gas masks in stock, for example in schools and other public buildings in the Soviet Union: during the Cold War, the fear of a nuclear attack by the USA was omnipresent.
21points
#3 Ferristales
View of the famous amusement park that was supposed to open on April 30, 1986, four days after the accident.
20points
In the super disaster of 1986, it wasn’t just the catastrophe that played a role for me, but also the events that led to it and how the Soviet system subsequently acted were important components of my thoughts and interests. In addition, of course, there is my passion for abandoned places and the legacies of the USSR, so all that reasons led to a really deep connection to this area. So it was only a matter of time until I got the chance to visit the exclusion zone.
#4 The Pool Azure
This is the well-known swimming pool “Azure”: it is probably the most famous structure in Pripyat besides the Ferris wheel. It also appeared in video games like Call of Duty “Modern Warfare.” This pool was still in use even after the disaster and the following evacuation: liquidators and workers used it even until 1998.
16points
#5 Wait Forever
Here you can see the waiting area of the former hospital No 126. This is the hospital where the first firefighters from the reactor disaster were delivered and treated. The contaminated uniforms were brought to the basement straight after the arrival of those firemen to prevent further contamination—and they are still there today. However, it is advisable not to enter the basement because it still is one of the most contaminated places in all of Pripyat! So, even if I would have loved to document this place, it's plain and simple. It is too dangerous to approach those uniforms.
15points
In 2016, the time had finally come: I finally traveled there for the first time! Since then, I have not been able to get away from it. I would love to publish a book on Chernobyl one day to show my entire spectrum of the zone: because no one knows how long it will still be possible to show the places in this state.
#6 The Pripyat Sign
While you put up a place-name sign or maybe a plaque at the entrance to the town here in Western Europe, the Soviet states created and built real artworks: you could marvel at them when you reached the city. I don’t know if that is still common there today, but I personally think it’s great. Unfortunately, the sign of Pripyat has been defaced and smeared again and again recently by mindless people. Luckily, thanks to some more committed people, it was possible to restore it to its original state.
14points
#7 Shocked
Inside the unfinished cooling tower of Reactor 5, the Australian graffiti artist Guido van Helton created an impressive and moving piece of art to mark the 30th anniversary of the disaster.
14points
The substance of the buildings has decreased significantly in the last few years and various forest redevelopments have already destroyed unique villages and places. And finally, it’s just a matter of time before there'll be nothing left that shows and documents the impact and condition from 1986 so well. If anyone is interested in helping me work on such a book in any way, or if someone would even publish it—please do not hesitate to contact me! At this point, I would like to show you some special impressions from the exclusion zone and say a few words about them.
#8 Listen To Your Enemies
The Soviet over-horizon radar was also commonly called “Woodpecker.” Woodpecker because a woodpecker produces a brief knock in the worldwide radio sequences. It was used for missile defense and intended to recognize the probable start of a missile attack in Europe or America at an early stage during the Cold War.
12points
#9 Neither Below Nor Above
A look up along the Duga3 radar. With its height of about 150 meters, it is a really breathtaking structure.
12points
#10 Babyboom
Pripyat was a very large city and the high density of children was already considered while planning the city. In addition to the 5 schools and 15 kindergartens, it even has its own children’s hospital and a large maternity ward in Hospital No. 126.
11points
#11 Rotten Hymns
In the past (and, of course, still today), making music was a high cultural asset in the Soviet Union that brought up several famous composers. So it came about that a great number of households and institutions also always owned a piano. Pripyat also had its own music school (more on that later).
11points
#12 Unfinished Business
These structures show the upcoming cooling towers of the never-finished reactor 5 in Chernobyl. The degree of completion of this extension of the power plant was 70% at the accident.
11points
#13 Heroes
Here you can see the fire station of Chernobyl 2, a secret and cordoned-off military site that is located only 10 km away from the power plant. Even most of the residents of Chernobyl did not know about the existence of this facility—let alone how it looked inside. Only the well-known “Woodpecker” radar Duga3, which rises up into the sky over 100 meters, showed them that something was going on there. Incidentally, the model of the city, including the radar, is located on the small stage in this room.
10points
#14 A Ticket For 4 Please
9points
#15 Ballin'
Basketball was one of the most popular sports in the USSR. Therefore, in addition to the numerous gyms in Pripyat, open spaces for sports were also built everywhere all over the city, where you could throw a basketball with your friends.
9points
#16 Wooden Floor
This picture shows the gym of the Energetik Kulturpalast. This one was only the 2nd largest in the city, but the most popular. Here, too, nature is regaining its place, and trees are sprouting out of the parquet.
9points
#17 Knowledge Is Power
Knowledge is power. Also, the Soviet Union knew that and so there were always several well-equipped physics rooms in the schools. While there were some outstanding engineers and scientists in the field of natural science and technology, there were major deficits in the field of humanity and social sciences due to censorship and political taboos.
8points
#18 You Are Still So Beautiful
This poor little doll has had to go through a lot over the past 35 years. You can see that at first glance, but on closer inspection, you also perceive its everlasting beauty.
8points
#19 The Cleaner
This big boy once was used to clean up the streets of Pripyat. While most of the heavily contaminated vehicles during and after the accident are now buried forever, one can still find a treasure like this one there now and then.
8points
#20 Last Cuddled In 1986
It is often the small details that bring up all the melancholy of this city in me. Like that little elephant in one of the kindergartens: I try to imagine how it once had been hugged tightly by a child. Maybe it was the child's best friend?! Maybe its only one, too?! I will never know, but I hope that the child may remember that elephant until today.
7points