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.
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.
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.
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
I don’t know what to say about the war in Ukraine. It is so frustrating to know people, historical sites, houses, etc.. are getting injured, damaged or worse because of one person’s greed and evil intent.
These are photos from Chernobyl (pre-war).
Chernobyl Reactor #4 with the containment dome over the nuclear disaster
Chernobyl Reactor #5 which was under construction when #4 melted down
Engineering office at the Jupiter Factory
Inside the Jupiter Factory
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
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.
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.
I’ve posted a few photos from this spot in the past.
This abandoned Russian early warning missile radar station is a pretty cool spot to visit. This one sits inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
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.
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
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
I don’t know what this building was for exactly. This was on a farm in the outer regions of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. I climbed the partial staircase on the right side of the building (probably not my smartest moment) only to find birds have taken over that room with all the broken windows…..
To view a larger version, click HERE
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
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
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
This iconic Chernobyl building is the Cultural Center in the main square of downtown Pripyat. It has a couple swimming pools, boxing ring, gymnastic equipment, auditorium, exercise rooms, and a bunch of other things. Right behind this building is where the carnival was setup to start a festival that never happened. By the way, this structure was a great building to explore.
To view a larger version, click HERE
Tonight, I have a flashback for you. Here is a photo I took in downtown Pripyat, Ukraine during our 2018 trip to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. This abandoned ferris wheel was setup as part of a traveling carnival behind main street, but the rides never got used due to the disaster. Over three decades later, they are still sitting there.
We used a bunch of flashlights to light paint this so I could capture this photo.
To view a larger version, click HERE
I loved the stained-glass windows in this abandoned restaurant along the river in Pripyat, Ukraine. Before the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, this must have been a great place to enjoy a meal.
To view a larger version, click HERE
I honestly can’t remember where within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone I took this photo. I think it was inside a factory building, but I’m not sure. Regardless, after I finished processing this a couple of days ago, I knew I had to post it. I loved how simple and powerful this scene is within the photo. I liked the shadows, the single push cart in the room, etc….
To view a larger version, click HERE
