Photographer Roman Robroek has shared some haunting images of Pripyat, in northern Ukraine, which was evacuated after the explosion of the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986
A photographer has unveiled chilling images of a deserted town that’s been uninhabited for 35 years and is being reclaimed by the trees.
The city of Pripyat, in northern Ukraine, was abandoned following the catastrophic explosion at the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 and has remained empty ever since. Dutch photographer Roman Robroek spent a week capturing the eerie beauty of the untouched buildings and landmarks within the city.
Describing his journey as “unreal”, he expressed surprise at finding the area largely preserved with the structures still in “good shape”. Roman explored the ghost town with a private guide, travelling around in a small van to take in the sights. Once home to nearly 50,000 residents, Pripyat is now completely deserted.
Located about 4 km from the nuclear plant, Pripyat was a city of about 50,000 people at the time of the accident, and served as the residential centre for the administration staff and workers at the Chernobyl power plant and a local factory. Its resembles that of the other “Atomograds” or “Atom cities”, such as Obninsk and Dimitrovgrad in Russia, which were built in parallel with nuclear plants to house workers.
Researchers visited the city several years ago to inspect the trees and found that the majority which had been planted there were still alive and healthy. “After a quarter-century of no maintenance, Pripyat’s urban vegetation remains recognizable for its urban pattern, and is remarkable for its expansive canopy and large trees, and generally acceptable tree condition,” they wrote.
This is at odds to the trees closer to the power plant within the 10 km/sq exclusive zone, where the ginger-coloured woodland poisoned by the melt-down has come be known as the Red Forest.
In Pipyat, an image of the sign welcoming visitors from 1970 stands in stark contrast to the visible decay and destruction throughout the town. Among the haunting images captured by Roman is the former Ferris wheel, which appears in good condition at first glance but a closer look reveals pods once filled with joyous riders are now overrun with trees. Nature seems to be reclaiming the city in several photos, with trees towering over the height of the buildings.
One poignant image shows a dilapidated school complete with abandoned child-sized chairs and toys covered in dust and debris. In another sobering snapshot, what looks like a former nursery is seen with decaying walls and a cot, its mattress still eerily in place. Roman’s photographic journey captures the eerie remnants of a once-bustling town, with one image showing an old salon strewn with hair products and shattered mirrors still hanging on the walls.
Another chilling snapshot features dozens of gas masks scattered across the floor of what seems to be a communal bathroom. A particular photo reveals an abandoned school gym, its wallpaper peeling back to reveal the brickwork beneath, while forgotten sports gear remains untouched. Further into the school, Roman captured several shots of classrooms, including one with a large chalkboard hinting at former music lessons.
Yet another poignant picture uncovers a dilapidated school assembly hall, where a lone piano stands as a silent testament to its history. Roman expressed his astonishment: “The massive size of the area and the state of decay everything was in shocked me.” He continued, “I was expecting a big city with many buildings but this was massive and there was so much to see.”
Remarkably, “Most of the buildings were still in pretty good shape and lots of details have still been left conserved, like a mural in the post office.. They had everything; cinema, schools, 15 kindergartens, sports places, a post office, a supermarket, hotels, many shops and barbers.”
Reflecting on the experience, Roman shared, “While walking and driving around the city it felt very surreal. It’s such a huge area with so many abandoned buildings it’s easy to imagine that 50,000 lived there.” Roman described the desolation: “It was truly a ghost city crumbling buildings and nature taking over. I never felt scared, just really flabbergasted by the massive size of everything and the historical value.”