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Report - - Chernobyl, Ukraine, Quarter 4 2013 | European and International Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Chernobyl, Ukraine, Quarter 4 2013

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28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Last year, myself and a non member arranged a trip to Chernobyl. This was separate journey to the mass pilgrimage that was arranged on here, and I didn't post this previous as I was expecting a huge surge of Chernobyl reports from that trip.

As none have emerged I thought I would take the opportunity to get mine up.

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We went in the final quarter last year, although to protect the guide who took us into buildings won’t be any more specific than that. He/she was absolutely fantastic - really enthusiastic, clearly loved visiting the zone, and very knowledgable about each stop we made.

This was my second visit out there, first being in 2012 Chernobyl & Pripyat, 2012 - a set on Flickr although this trip was the first time we were 'allowed' into any of the buildings

I was originally going to be doing this trip around now, but as my fiancee is due to pop out a baby in 3 weeks time I thought it best to rearrange the jaunt, in case things kick off early!!

In doing so, we handily ended up avoided all the rioters and protesters who have subsequently set up camp right outside the front door to the flat we were staying in...

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I’m sure that there is no-one on here that doesn’t know the history of this place, so I’ll try and keep it brief:

The Chernobyl disaster occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then officially the Ukrainian SSR), which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities of the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe.
The Chernobyl disaster is widely considered to have been the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, and is one of only two classified as a level 7 event. The battle to contain the radioactive material and avert a greater catastrophe ultimately involved over 500,000 workers and cost an estimated 18*billion rubles. The official Soviet casualty count of 31 deaths has been disputed, and long-term effects such as cancers and deformities are still being accounted for.


The disaster is perfect example of the Swiss cheese model - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and a rather more comprehensive account of the history and events can be found here for anyone interested Chernobyl Appendix 1: Sequence of Events

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Welcome to Chernobyl

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“For Those Who Saved The Worldâ€

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First stop of interest was a village whose name translated roughly as “The Town Behind The Trees"


Goods for sale in the village shop

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Town Theatre

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Stage of Decay

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We then headed into Pripyat - first stop the gynaecological hospital


Nurses roster

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A fanny chair. Not sure what the technical term is…

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First floor corridor

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Medicine for the ladies in labour?

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I wonder how many new lives had these weighing scales as their first rest stop

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The hospital had it’s own drama theatre

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One of many pianos that we saw on the day

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Second floor corridor

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After the hospital, we visited a coffee shop by the lake.


Coffee vending machines

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Some impressive stained glass remains, somehow having avoided the looters

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The view over the lake that people enjoying their beverages would have taken in

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Onto Pripyat city


Market Square

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Wouldn’t be a Chernobyl tour without…

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…the sad and never used fun fair

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Ferris wheel motor detail

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Over to the local school we went next


Gas mask practice possibly occurred here before the accident


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Books strewn everywhere

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Basketball court

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Swimming pool

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A 16-storey climb was next up. Made me glad my office on a similar floor has a lift…


Worth the climb for the view from up top
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Hope you enjoyed the set (and sorry that I wasn't able to force myself to cut the photo selection down any further than I already did for the report..!)
 

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