As the conflict in Ukraine persists, disturbing new photos have surfaced from within the location of the world’s most severe nuclear disaster. AFP photographer Genya Savilov, in collaboration with Greenpeace, has been granted rare entry into the scene of the infamous Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.
Greenpeace has issued a caution that an uncontrolled collapse of the internal radiation barrier at the abandoned Chernobyl nuclear facility in Ukraine could heighten the threat of releasing radioactivity into the surroundings.
Our photo collection unveils the unsettling current state of the plant, almost four decades after the 1986 explosion spewed radioactive contamination worldwide. The catastrophic event on April 26, 1986, triggered an explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, leading to the release of radioactive particles into the air.
While numerous individuals perished in the immediate aftermath of the incident, the long-term casualties from radiation exposure are estimated to be in the thousands. Oleksandr Skomarokhov, Chornobyl’s deputy technical director for managing radioactive waste, is depicted using a phone in the control room of the inactive reactor 3.
Various shots from inside the control room of the now-defunct reactor 3 are shown, along with a radiation warning sign on a panel in the control room of the devastated fourth block of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Engineers are observed conversing in front of monitors within the control room of the New Safe Confinement, a protective dome surrounding the damaged fourth reactor.
A radiation protection engineer is seen working in front of the sarcophagus covering the destroyed fourth reactor. Additionally, Oleksandr Skomarokhov is captured speaking on a mobile phone in the “golden corridor” at the nuclear plant, leading to the control rooms of reactors 3 and 4.
Individuals are depicted checking protective masks before entering the control room of the ruined fourth block, while others in protective gear attend the same area. The first casualty of the Chornobyl disaster, Valery Khodemchuk, is commemorated on the wall between blocks 3 and 4.
Furthermore, the exterior features the Prometheus monument, dating back to the construction of the plant. Greenpeace representatives and media personnel are showcased during a visit to the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Lastly, engineers are seen discussing in front of monitors within the New Safe Confinement control room.