National Chernobyl Museum, Kyiv

Everyone has heard about the tragedy happened in Pripyat area (Kiev region) on April 26, 1986, on the Reactor No. 4 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This tragedy became disastrous for the Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine). Destructions had explosive character, the reactor was completely destroyed and the large quantities of radioactive substances were released in the environment. This accident is regarded as the largest of its kind in the whole history of nuclear power, both in terms of number of people killed and affected by its consequences, and in terms of economic damage.

I think are many travelers, who would like to visit such a mysterious and dangerous place like Pripyat, to see what the reactor looks like in our time, to walk through an empty, deserted city, or to honor the memory of the dead. Of course, a stroll around the ghost city is the task for the brave, for those who is ready to look their fears in the eye. However, there is also an alternative and safe option for the curious, the Chernobyl Museum, which is located in Kiev.

History
The Museum was opened on April 26, 1992, the opening was created for the fifth anniversary of the accident. The Museum has collected more than 7000 exhibits that tell us about the events of that dramatic day. Those include photos of the dead liquidators, maps, photographs classified at that time documents and even things that once belonged to the dead liquidators or to the ordinary people who were later evacuated from the city. The Museum is equipped in the theme of the disaster, in the manner of the so-called exclusion zone. At the entrance to the Museum visitors are greeted by a slogan “Est dolendi modus, non est timendi” which means in Latin “to suffering there is a limit, to being in fear there is none”. Next you will see a barrier with alarming, flashing lights that warn visitors about entering the dangerous zone. Signs above your heads denote 76 cities and villages that were evacuated and ceased their existence as a result of the accident. On the road you are met by an uprooted apple tree, a symbol of the Biblical tree of Life.

 

“Chernobyl road” leads to the first hall, where the visitors are waited by the iconostasis. Under the cover of the iconostasis instead of the font you will see the swinging authentic Polesian boat, a symbol of Noah's ark, with children's toys left by visitors of the Museum. Next to the iconostasis there are 3 figures of liquidators in protective suits and respirators. Two angels spread their wings over the iconostasis: white and black, good and evil. Under the wings of a white angel, as if under his protection there are portraits of children born after the disaster; the wings of black angel are decorated with historical photos of the last 70 years. The ceiling of the hall is made in the form of a symbolic map of the world where nuclear power plants located on all continents of the Earth flash with alarming lights. you will also see an exhibition of social posters on nuclear topics hanging on the walls of the hall.

 

The Museum provides you with video and audio materials about the causes and consequences of the accident, the working model of the power plant. The exposition of the national Museum of Chernobyl presents an electronic book of memory, which helps to obtain information about the liquidators-heroes; you will also learn what tasks they performed to eliminate the accident and what doses of radiation received. Here you will see episodes of life of the Chernobyl zone after the accident, reflecting the human fate, which intertwines exploit and pain, courage and tears.

 

The national Museum of Chernobyl was created in order to rethink and understand the causes and consequences of this biggest problem in the history of mankind. The exposition of the Museum will not leave anyone indifferent; strong emotions are guaranteed.

How to get!?
Kyiv national Museum of Chernobyl is located in m. Kiev, street Horyv, 1, metro station "Kontraktova square".

 

Translated by: Daniella Glezina