Travel Blog PSRER, Belarusian Part of Exclusion Zone

On 26 April 1986 the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine) took place. One of the biggest nuclear disasters in the world, the consequences of which are still not completely known. At the time not at all. Initially, the administrators mainly responded in denial, but the seriousness of the disaster was soon recognized. The city of Pripyat and surrounding area was evacuated a few days later.

Now, more than 30 years later, Pripyat is becoming a tourist attraction (partly due to the HBO film about Chernobyl). It is therefore horrifying and fascinating to see, a step back in time. Abandoned cities from the Soviet era in a desolate environment.

Much less known is the fact that Belarus was actually the major victim of the disaster, since the wind was blowing north and the nuclear reactor is located 5 kilometers from the border with Belarus. Most of the radioactive precipitation has ended up here. Here too an entire area was evacuated, with dozens of villages. But only a few days later after the accident, the authorities did not want to disturb the May 1st celebration. Then the inhabitants of the villages were told to leave the house for three days and to take only the most necessary things. The authorities knew that those people would never return, but were afraid that if they told them, the evacuation would be a lot harder.

This evacuation zone has become the PSRER, the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve.
Abandoned since May 1986. And, unlike Pripyat, only became accessible since the beginning of 2019. Here, too, a step back in time, overgrown villages, rusting away agricultural machinery, abandoned classrooms, concert halls where the memories of the last May 1 celebration are dusting, a rusting ferry that previously brought passengers to Kiev.

But also, one of the largest nature reserves in Europe. Because no people have been coming here for over 30 years, many wild animals have settled here. Bison, wolves, moose, deer, bears, lynx. This has become a unique area where nature has gained the upper hand over man.

The area is barely visited yet, less than 100 foreigners have been here. But just like Pripyat and Chernobyl on the other side of the border, it all has the potential to become a major draw for travellers and photographers. The radiation to which you are exposed during a visit of several hours is comparable to that of an intercontinental flight.

I make a day trip through this area, accompanied by a licensed guide. You drive through the exclusion zone in an old Soviet van. I visit a small museum, a few old vehicles used to fight the disaster, various (overgrown) villages, old factories, the old port, Soviets, an old school, the culture house, a watchtower (with a view to Chernobyl). It is a special experience to travel through this disaster area, taking a step back in time.

In the cultural center, the memories of the last May 5 celebration from 1986 are still visible. Old Soviet pamphlets, slogans, banners are the silent witnesses of this last celebration. Two days later the inhabitants were evacuated.