Chornobyl Exclusion Zone – 30 years alone

On the 26th of April 1986, a routine test at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant went catastrophically wrong. The two explosions that followed covered a vast area across Ukraine and Belarus in radioactive material, now known as the Exclusion Zone.

Within a few days, the entire population had been evacuated with their lives changed forever. Over time, some residents have returned to their homes, however, most homes remain empty, slowly being reclaimed.

Nature is creeping across the landscape. Buildings are vanishing into the dense shrub that blankets all the open spaces and wildlife is thriving. Concrete is slowly crumbling and buildings are collapsing.

Despite the heroic efforts of the liquidators in the early days, over time dust has accumulated on every surface. Most areas are free of radiation but unexpected pockets in corners still remain to make exploring an experience with rules and monitoring.

While everyone knows the iconic locations in the exclusion zone, prior to the war there were still areas that could provide a surprise. Little details often overlooked share the story of the buildings and the people who lived and worked in them.

No one knows right now when it will be safe again to return to the exclusion zone, but one certainty is that Mother Nature will have reclaimed more for herself by the time a small resemblance of normality returns.

This series of images was made over a number of days spent in the Exclusion Zone during March 2019.