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Pripyat Visit Or The Soviet Union Through Our Eyes
BY Abdul Aziz Oct 3, 2020
There are countless stories and myths that abound about Chernobyl. While some say that it was just an accident at a nuclear plant, others point to a warring country being responsible for causing it. The nuclear accident at Chernobyl happened in the erstwhile USSR era. This was roughly around the same time when the Cold War was raging between the Communist USSR and the Western Capitalist world. The stories, myths, and controversies have made Chernobyl somewhat of an urban legend. Chernobyl has become so famous that it has been featured in a Netflix series. It has also started attracting audiences and tourists from all over the world, who want to see one of the most significant remnants of our modern history. An Introduction to Pripyat, the city surrounding Chernobyl Visiting Pripyat today, we can only imagine that it was a city of opportunity, where almost every resident had a prestigious job and a promising future. This city is located on the Pripyat River, 3 kilometers from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and has been prosperous and advanced since its foundation. Until April 26, 1986, when the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant forced more than 300 thousand people to leave their homes due to the threat of radiation. This is how the exclusion zone appeared. It was an area of 2,600 square kilometers, free of people. Before the Chernobyl incident, Pripyat was one of the most economically developed and bustling cities of the USSR. The trade, commerce, and lifestyle of the people were as good as it could get under a Communist regime. Culturally, Pripyat embodied the best of the USSR. The Chernobyl accident was a major turning point in the fortunes of the city and its inhabitants. The Problems faced by Inhabitants of Pripyat after the Chernobyl Accident Many inhabitants had to move to government camps and medical facilities. There was monitoring for radiation, and many also faced isolation and therapy. Even after the nuclear winter ended, water and soil here had traces of radiation. The government could not ever settle inhabitants in the city. Many had to migrate thousands of miles to different regions, often starting from scratch. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant changed hundreds of thousands of destinies. It caused enormous economic damage and was a crushing blow to the nuclear industry. In the shortest possible time, the whole city was to be empty. People could only take their documents. As Pripyat was a bustling center of trade and commerce, you can still see so many markets, big complexes, theatres, and auditoriums. Many historians have stated that Pripyat was as rich and powerful as Moscow was. However, after the accident, there was just chaos and destruction as far as the eye could see. How Did Chernobyl Look Like During My Last Visit? Here is what you can expect if you visit Chernobyl today When I last visited Chernobyl, it was like returning to the distant Soviet Union. I could still see elements of communist propaganda, personal belongings scattered on the streets, and abandoned buildings. The hammer and sickle adorned the lanterns on the eve of the May holidays. Toys were scattered across the schoolyard, abandoned by children in the confusion. The clock in the city showed 11:55, the time of the power outage. Nature Conquering The Human Race In Chernobyl Chernobyl visit gave me an opportunity to see how nature conquers human error. Pripyat turns into a forest. Here is what I have seen. Shelter “Sarcophagus It covered the destroyed Unit 4 to protect the environment from continued exposure to radiation. The Exclusion Zone Excursions along this area were conducted with visits to local “attractions”, museums, and communication with self-settlers. Amusement Park The official opening of the amusement park was planned for May 1, 1986. Red Forest It had absorbed a huge dose of radioactive dust. Most of the trees died, and the survivors took on a rusty hue. The Bridge of Death The townspeople came here to see the burning reactor, not knowing that the radiation level here was one of the highest in the city. Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of tourists made a visit to Chernobyl and Pripyat. But, believe me, the emotions that you feel when you find yourself in this city cannot be compared with anything. Why And How Tourism Is Banned In Chernobyl Today Tourism to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone drew close to 100,000 visitors in 2019 alone. However, it came to a halt in February 2022 when Russian forces crossed into Ukraine from Belarus and occupied the plant and surrounding area within hours of the invasion beginning. Soldiers reportedly dug military trenches directly into the ground of the Red Forest, one of the most radioactively contaminated patches of soil on the planet. Thus, it kicked up decades-old contaminated dust in the process. Although Russian troops withdrew after roughly a month, the occupation left lasting damage, and looters stripped research facilities of equipment in the aftermath. The security situation has not eased since. In early 2025, a Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement, the $1.5 billion arch built to seal the ruined reactor for the next century. It proved that even the site's most critical infrastructure remained vulnerable to attack. Because of this ongoing risk, Ukrainian authorities have kept the zone closed to regular visitors, prioritizing security over tourism revenue while the war continues. Licensed tour operators that once ran day trips and multi-day excursions have largely paused operations, with some pivoting instead to virtual tours. Officials have signaled that reopening remains a long-term goal. Ukraine signed decrees before the invasion aiming to develop the zone as a tourism and heritage site. More recent memoranda between the Chernobyl plant authority and the city of Slavutych point to plans for a post-war revival. However, there is still no lasting peace. So, only accredited journalists, scientists, and plant workers can enter Pripyat and the wider Exclusion Zone. A Recent BBC Visit: What Happened At Chernobyl, 40 Years On In April 2026, the BBC marked the 40th anniversary of the disaster with a televised visit to the site, produced as part of its documentary What Happened at Chernobyl. Presented by journalist Jordan Dunbar, the report retraces the events of April 1986. It also examines the reason behind concealing the data from the public for so long. The BBC crew walked through the plant's control room. It was where the fatal decisions were made. It also toured the surrounding area, including Pripyat, capturing footage of the abandoned apartment blocks, the overgrown boulevards, and the rusting Ferris wheel that never opened to the public. Dunbar also spoke with two liquidators, the workers who carried out the dangerous clean-up operation in the disaster's immediate aftermath. The documentary situates this reporting within the present, noting the continued relevance of the site amid the war in Ukraine, and traces the fallout's reach across Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. A companion piece, The Last Dancefloor in Chernobyl, follows a young couple and a local DJ. On the eve of their wedding, the explosion forced an immediate evacuation. Together, the segments offer one of the most detailed recent looks inside the Exclusion Zone. It was possible only because journalists, unlike ordinary tourists, can still secure the accreditation needed to enter under wartime restrictions. Practical Tips For Visiting Pripyat And Chernobyl Safely Once Pripyat is open to visitors again, follow these tips before planning a trip. Carry A Valid Passport Because the Exclusion Zone remains an active radiological monitoring area, every visitor must carry a valid passport. Also, most operators require your details at least two to three days in advance. The Ukrainian authorities need this time to process the necessary clearance. Spontaneous, walk-up visits are not possible here the way they might be at a typical tourist attraction. Radiological Safety Radiation exposure on a standard one-day tour is comparable to the dose you receive on a long-haul transatlantic flight. It is roughly 2 to 6 microsieverts. They will also give you a dosimeter to track your own exposure throughout the day. That said, guides are strict about where you can walk. Certain hotspots, particularly around the Red Forest and near buried machinery, register far higher readings. Also, don’t step off marked paths or pick up objects from the ground. It is important both for radiological safety and to preserve the site for future visitors. Be Particular About Clothing Clothing matters more than most people expect. Long sleeves, long trousers, and closed shoes are mandatory in all seasons. Exposed skin picks up radioactive dust more easily than shielded surfaces. Many tour operators also recommend clothing and shoes you do not mind discarding afterward. And most exit checkpoints have radiation scanners that will flag anything that needs to be left behind. Know The Best Time To Visit Seasonally, spring and autumn offer the most comfortable walking conditions. Mild temperatures and fewer of the biting insects appear in Pripyat's overgrown courtyards during summer. Winter visits have their own appeal. Snow cover mutes the color of the abandoned buildings. Winter also lends the city an even eerier stillness. Moreover, the cold can make longer walking tours more demanding. Know The Photography Norms Photography is generally welcomed. It is one of the main draws for many travelers. However, drones require separate permits that are rarely granted. So, don't plan around aerial shots. It is also worth noting that mobile signal is patchy at best inside the zone. So download offline maps and let someone outside the tour know your itinerary before you go. Read Also: 10 Best Places To Visit In Europe Top Places To Visit In Italy On Your Next Travel Escapade
