Abandoned village Vilcha, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

The people of Vilcha became displaced twice. First, the Chornobyl disaster forced them out in the early 1990s. Then in 2024, those same people — by then resettled near Vovchansk — were driven from their homes again, this time by war.

One settlement, two evacuations, an entire century of broken paths. And all of it tied to a name that's easy to mix up: the Polissia Vilcha and the Kharkiv Vilcha.

Quick Facts

What it is and why visit

Vilcha was a former urban-type settlement in Polissia that ended up within the radioactive contamination zone after the Chornobyl disaster. Unlike most evacuated villages, it had not just rural houses but real city-style apartment blocks. That makes Vilcha one of the most "urban" and accessible abandoned settlements in the zone.

Visitors come here to see something rare: not village houses, but stairwells, schools, shops, and the streets of a small town from which everyone suddenly vanished. And to hear the story of a double exile that has no parallel anywhere else.

History

Vilcha grew as a Polissia settlement tied to the railway and forestry industry. After the 1986 Chornobyl disaster, it fell within the radioactive contamination zone, and resettlement began in the early 1990s.

The relocation was organized in an unusual way: a new settlement with the same name was built for Vilcha's residents in northern Kharkiv region, near Vovchansk. The aim was to keep the community whole — to relocate not just individuals, but a community. Every year, on memorial days, former residents would return to the old cemeteries in the zone to visit the graves of their relatives.

One name, two Vilchas: the old Polissia village, taken by radiation, and the new Kharkiv settlement, taken thirty years later by war.

In 2024, the new Vilcha near Vovchansk came under attack during the Russian offensive, and people had to be evacuated for a second time. Vilcha's residents say the two flights were completely different: in the 1990s it was an organized move, while in 2024 it was a panicked escape from shelling, grabbing documents and a few belongings.

Stories and the memory of place

Vilcha has no "classic" eerie legends — its real history is heavier than any ghost story.

1. The village that refused to disappear

Among those resettled, there was a long-held belief that by carrying the name, the church, and the cemetery traditions with them, they had "taken Vilcha along." The double evacuation made this almost prophetic: the village had to be saved once again, but the community held together.

2. The road back to remember

The annual memorial-day visits became their own ritual: people drove through the checkpoint to the graves, tended them, and went back. For the exclusion zone, this was a rare case of a dead village briefly coming alive once a year with the voices of its former residents.

What to see on site

The apartment blocks. Vilcha's defining feature. Empty stairwells and apartments in the zone — a sight most villages here simply don't offer.

Public buildings. A school, shops, and other facilities — the skeleton of a small town that suddenly stopped.

Railway remains. The tracks and infrastructure that once supported the settlement are now being reclaimed by forest.

How to get there

Important. Vilcha is located within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Independent entry is prohibited, and since 2022 access to the zone has been restricted for security reasons. Check the current visiting status before planning a trip.

With an organized tour. The route runs from Kyiv through the "Dytyatky" checkpoint with a guide. Vilcha is considered one of the more accessible sites in the zone with city-style housing, so it's often included in extended programs.

Don't confuse it with the Kharkiv Vilcha. The settlement near Vovchansk is a different place, located in a frontline area — visiting it is not possible.

Traveler's checklist

• Zone access permit — required.
• Dosimeter — pockets of higher radiation occur in the abandoned buildings.
• Flashlight — for dark stairwells and rooms.
• Sturdy shoes — debris, broken glass, and collapsed floors.
• What NOT to do: climb to unsafe upper floors, take items away, or touch objects with bare hands.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Vilcha evacuated twice?

The first time was due to radioactive contamination after the Chornobyl disaster (early 1990s). The second was in 2024, when the new Vilcha near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region came under Russian attack.

How is Vilcha different from other villages in the zone?

It had urban-style apartment blocks, not just rural houses. That makes it one of the most "city-like" abandoned settlements in the zone.

Is it safe to go there?

Only with an organized group, a permit, and a dosimeter. Since 2022, access to the zone has been restricted, so check the current visiting status.

Can you visit the Kharkiv Vilcha?

No. The settlement near Vovchansk is in a frontline area — visiting it is impossible and dangerous.

Vilcha's story is a story about how home isn't walls — it's the people who stick together. Twice they lost the ground beneath their feet, and twice they remained a community.

The abandoned apartment blocks in the zone are only the first Vilcha. The second, living one is still searching for a place to settle for a third time — and hoping it will be the last.

The topic of losing a home and forced displacement can be sensitive. If these events have affected you personally, it's okay to seek support from loved ones or professionals.