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.

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.

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

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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Chernobyl Crane Assembly

During our 2018 Chernobyl trip, we explored the city of Pripyat, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  In the Exclusion Zone, we came upon this waterfront crane which was used to load and unload ships.  The entire crane is cool, but I focused my time capturing smaller sections of it to highlight the details. 

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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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Outer Exclusion Zone

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

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