Pre-War Chernobyl Factory

Continuous depressing news coming out of Ukraine.  Not that Russia is making much progress (that’s the good news), but more along the lines of more and more people getting hurt, killed and displaced.  So needless. 

Here are a few photos from the Jupiter Factory in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.    

Pripyat Culture Center’s Swimming Pool

Here are a few photos (pre-war) of the community swimming pool in downtown Pripyat.  This spot within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is very close to the iconic Chernobyl Ferris Wheel.

 

I’m sure that all visitors to Chernobyl visit both the Ferris Wheel and this swimming pool.

 

My heart continues to break for the people of Ukraine….  I’m going to run out of Ukraine photos soon that I haven’t posted already.  I realize that by posting my Ukraine photos, that it doesn’t help the people of Ukraine.  But I hope in some small way, it keeps them and their situation in our thoughts.

Pripyat Ukraine Hot Spots

Here are some more of my favorite Chernobyl Exclusion Zone spots (pre-war).  By the way, I’m still sad about what’s happening there.

Pripyat riverside Cafe

Office

Hospital utility room

Elementary School stairs case

Ukraine Temples

I visited several different religious churches and temples during our visit to Ukraine (pre-war).  Some of them abandoned inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, some in small villages and a some in Kyiv.

Here are a few photos from those locations with more in the photo gallery.

Slavutych Ukraine

Church ceiling inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

St. Sophia's Cathedral in Sophia’s Square (Kyiv)

Chernobyl Basketball Courts

I’m shocked and happy that the Ukrainian people (civilians and military) are holding the Russian military back.  Surprisingly, the Russian military doesn’t seem very competent, despite their advantage in equipment, size and training.

Here are some photos I took inside to abandoned basketball courts within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Chernobyl Vehicles

There are a bunch of abandoned vehicles within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  Even though the rules prohibit removing anything from the Zone due to radioactivity, everything has been picked over including the vehicles.  It’s hard to find any vehicle that hasn’t had numerous parts salvaged by scrappers.  Note…these photos are pre-war. 

Pripyat Hospital

I’ll keep the Ukraine photo theme going.  I don’t know about you, but I keep watching and reading everything I can find about the war in Ukraine.  I’m so sad about what’s happening and mad at the Russian government for doing it. 

I took these photos (pre-war) inside the abandoned hospital in the city of Pripyat, Ukraine.  This city is inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and a few miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Surgical Room

Hospital supply room

Optical Exam Room

I don’t know what this hospital bed was for

Baby nursery

Another nursery room in the OB department

Old Soviet Facilities in Ukraine

Here are a few more photos from my Ukraine trip (pre-war).  All of these were taken near the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor and within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. 

I hope the Ukraine military and people can keep on giving the Russian military a good fight and that they stay safe.

Abandoned Pripyat Apartment building with the Soviet logo on top

Abandoned buildings in Pripyat

DUGA - abandoned Russia military radar station to detect NATO Nuclear missile launches

Soviet Propaganda

Chernobyl Abandoned Boats

It’s great to see and hear about the Ukraine people fighting back and not letting the Russian military run right over them.  But I can only imagine the toll they are paying in blood to make that happen.  I stand with Ukraine!!

Here are some photos I took (pre-war) of abandoned ships in the Chernobyl River (technically this is near Pripyat which is the city next to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants.

Abandoned ship

Abandoned boat leaning to port

Same boat as the 2nd photo above.

Lifeguard station at a kids summer camp on the river

Jupiter

Did you have a great week?  I’m glad we’re going into the weekend, and I can get some things done around the house.

 

Today’s photo is from the abandoned Jupiter Factory in Pripyat Ukraine, which sits a few miles from Chernobyl and is within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  The Russians claimed the factory made cassette recorders, but in reality it made semiconductor components for their military.  We spent a couple hours exploring this site during our 2018 Chernobyl trip. 

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Hospital Lobby

This is the Pripyat Hospital lobby inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  This hospital received and cared for the firefighters who responded to the nuclear reactor disaster when the Chernobyl accident occurred.  All of the firefighters died of radiation exposure.

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Chernobyl School

On this Sunday, I have a photo for you that I took inside one of the many abandoned schools within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  This specific school was in the city of Pripyat (the town right next to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant).  We explored this school and took a ton of photos of it and frankly everything else we explored during our 4 days within the Zone.

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Pripyat Overgrown

This is a photo looking down, via my drone, at the City of Pripyat, which sits next to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.  It has been abandoned since April 1986 following the nuclear disaster at this site.  As you can see, mother nature is taking over.  These buildings are high rise apartment buildings. 

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Chernobyl Mural

Here is a mural I captured inside an abandoned building in the city of Pripyat.  Sorry I can’t remember which building.  Maybe some of my travel companions will remember.  I think it was the Post Office in the town square….maybe????

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Soviet Propaganda

I found these old Soviet propaganda signs at the back of the Pripyat Cultural Center.  Pripyat had over 49,000 people before it was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  The Cultural Center building was a great explore. 

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Chernobyl Bumper Car

I’m not sure why I didn’t share this photo in the past.  Regardless, here it is!!  I captured this in Pripyat, Ukraine a few miles from Chernobyl nuclear reactor number 4.  The entire region is abandoned and will be for decades to come.  There was a carnival setup for a village celebration, which of course never happened, with the nuclear reactor meltdown.  The carnival rides are some of the most popular tourist attractions within the Exclusion Zone.

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Chernobyl Surgical Suite

It’s hard to believe it has been two years since our Chernobyl trip.  We planned to go back this October, but that isn’t going to happen.  No shock there, since 2020 is messed up from top to bottom. 

 

I took this photo in the Pripyat Hospital, which is a few miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. 

 

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Jupiter Factory Again

Here is another photo from the Jupiter Factory inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  See my last post for a few more details on this factory.  I took this photo on an upper floor within the factory complex. I think this was a mechanical space or maybe support space.  It didn’t look like factory production space to me.  I liked the columns and other support beams in this room. 

To view a larger version, click HERE

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Jupiter Factory

This is the abandoned Jupiter Factory located on the edge of Pripyat within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  The Russian’s officially claimed this factory manufactured cassette recorders and components for home appliances, but it secretly produced semiconductor components for the Soviet military and had a test workshop for robotic systems.

To view a larger version, click HERE

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