Chernobyl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chernobyl
Чорнобиль
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City of district significance
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| Chornobyl | |
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Chernobyl's Old City Hall building
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 Chernobyl
Location in Ukraine
Chernobyl
Location in Kyiv Oblast
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| Country |  Ukraine |
| Oblast | Kyiv Oblast |
| Raion | Chernobyl Raion (1923–1988) Ivankiv Raion (1988–2020) Vyshhorod Raion (2020–present) Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (de facto) (1986–present) |
| First mentioned | 1193 |
| City status | 1941 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25 km2 (10 sq mi) |
| Population
(2019)
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| • Total | 1,054 |
| Postal code |
07270
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| Area code(s) | +380-4593 |
Chernobyl (pronounced chur-NOH-buhl) is a city in Ukraine that is mostly empty today. It's known as a 'ghost town' because most people left after a huge nuclear accident. It's located in northern Ukraine, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Kyiv. Before the accident, about 14,000 people lived there.
Even though it's technically illegal to live in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, about 150 people still live in the less affected areas of Chernobyl. The city was first mentioned in 1193 as a hunting lodge. It has changed hands many times throughout history.
In 1972, Ukraine's first nuclear power plant was built about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of the city. It opened in 1977. On May 5, 1986, Chernobyl was evacuated. This happened nine days after a terrible nuclear disaster at the power plant. This was the biggest nuclear disaster ever. Most people moved to a new city called Slavutych and have not returned.
Today, Chernobyl is mostly a ghost town. However, some people still live in houses marked "Owner of this house lives here." Workers who manage the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone also stay in the city. There are two small stores and a hotel.
In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces took over Chernobyl for a short time. Radiation levels went up because of activities that stirred up radioactive dust.
Contents
About Chernobyl's Name
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The city's name, Chernobyl, comes from a Ukrainian word for a plant called mugwort or wormwood. This plant is also known as chornobyl in Ukrainian. The name means "black grass" because of its dark stems.
Other names for the city in nearby languages include:
- Ukrainian: Чорнобиль (Chornobyl′)
- Belarusian: Чарнобыль (Čarnobyĺ)
- Russian: Черно́быль (Chernobyl′)
In English, the Russian spelling "Chernobyl" is often used. However, some people now prefer "Chornobyl" to match the Ukrainian spelling.
Chernobyl's Long History
The exact time Chernobyl was founded is not known. But old digs found signs of a settlement from the 10th to 12th centuries. This was even before Chernobyl was first written about.
Early Mentions and Growth
Chernobyl was part of Kievan Rus' around the 12th century. The first time it was mentioned in writing was in 1193. It was described as a hunting lodge for a prince. In 1362, it became a village owned by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The town had its own castle, which was rebuilt in the early 1500s. Chernobyl then became an important local center. By 1552, it had 196 buildings and 1,372 people. Many people worked in crafts like blacksmithing.
Changes in Control and Communities
In 1569, Chernobyl became part of the Kingdom of Poland. During this time, Ukrainian farmers, some Polish people, and many Jewish people lived there. The first mention of a Jewish community in Chernobyl was in the 1600s.
In 1626, a church and monastery were built. Local people who followed the Eastern Orthodox faith were sometimes forced to change to another church.
By the late 1700s, Chernobyl had 2,865 residents and 642 buildings.
Under Russian Rule
In 1793, Chernobyl became part of the Russian Empire. Many people who had been forced to change their faith returned to Eastern Orthodoxy.
By the late 18th century, Chernobyl became a major center for Hasidic Judaism. This was a special Jewish religious movement. The Jewish people in Chernobyl faced difficult times in the early 1900s. Many were killed or robbed. The Jewish community was later destroyed during the Holocaust in World War II.
In 1898, Chernobyl had 10,800 people, including 7,200 Jews.
Soviet Era (1920–1991)
After a period of fighting, Chernobyl became part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1921.
Between 1929 and 1933, people in Chernobyl suffered from a terrible famine caused by government policies. During World War II, the German army occupied Chernobyl from 1941 to 1943. The remaining 400 Jewish people in Chernobyl were killed during this time.
In 1972, construction began on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was built about 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of Chernobyl. A new city called Pripyat was built nearby to house the power plant workers.
Independent Ukraine (1991–Present)
When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Chernobyl remained part of Ukraine. It was still within the special area known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Russian Occupation in 2022
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces took over Chernobyl on February 24. They used the city as a starting point for attacks. Ukrainian officials said that radiation levels went up because military activities stirred up radioactive dust. Some Russian soldiers got sick from radiation. Russian forces left the area by April 2, and Ukraine took back control.
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
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On April 26, 1986, one of the reactors at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. This happened because of unsafe experiments done by plant workers and problems with the reactor's design. The explosion caused the largest nuclear disaster in history.
Chernobyl city was evacuated nine days after the disaster. The ground was covered with a lot of radioactive material, especially caesium-137.
Later studies showed that moving people from areas with lower radiation levels might not have been needed for health reasons alone. However, evacuating early helped protect people from other dangerous, short-lived radiation. The long-term health effects of the disaster are still discussed today.
By 1998, the average radiation doses from the accident were similar to what people get from natural sources. Today, the radiation levels in Chernobyl are also similar to the natural background radiation found worldwide.
Chernobyl now serves as the main office for managing and watching over the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It has offices and places for visitors to stay. Apartment buildings are used to house workers. Workers can only stay in the Exclusion Zone for a limited time to keep their radiation exposure low. Today, people can visit Chernobyl, but there are strict rules.
In 2003, the United Nations started a project to help the areas affected by the disaster. This project aims to help Ukraine deal with the long-term social, economic, and environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident.
The city has become overgrown with plants, and many types of animals now live there. Studies show that more mammals live there now than before the disaster.
