History of Chernobyl in Timeline

Chernobyl, located in Ukraine, is a partially abandoned city within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, approximately 90 kilometers north of Kyiv. Prior to its evacuation, it housed around 14,000 residents. Although living within the Exclusion Zone is technically illegal, authorities allow people to reside in less irradiated areas, with an estimated 150 residents in 2020. The city is best known for the catastrophic nuclear disaster that occurred at the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986, leading to its abandonment and the creation of the exclusion zone.

1902: Polish Geographical Dictionary on Founding Date

The Polish Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland of 1880–1902 states that the time the city was founded is not known.

October 1905: Pogroms Against Jewish Population

In October 1905, the Jewish population of Chernobyl suffered greatly from pogroms, where many were killed or robbed at the instigation of the Russian nationalist Black Hundreds.

1910: Chodkiewicz Family Ownership Ends

In 1910, the Chodkiewicz family owned a castle and a house in Chernobyl. They had sold the city to the state in 1896, but retained ownership of the property until 1910.

March 1918: Chernobyl Occupied by German Forces

In the beginning of March 1918, during World War I, Chernobyl was occupied by German forces in accordance with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

April 1919: Further Pogroms Against Jewish Population

In March–April 1919, the Jewish population in Chernobyl suffered greatly from further pogroms, resulting in killings and robberies incited by the Russian nationalist Black Hundreds.

1919: Chernobyl Taken in Polish-Soviet War

In the Polish-Soviet War of 1919–20, Chernobyl was taken first by the Polish Army and then by the cavalry of the Red Army.

1920: Twersky Dynasty Leaves Chernobyl

In 1920, the Twersky Dynasty left Chernobyl, leading to the end of the city's existence as a center of Hasidism.

1921: Chernobyl Incorporated into Ukrainian SSR

From 1921 onwards, Chernobyl was officially incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR.

1923: Chernobyl Becomes Administrative Center

In 1923, Chernobyl became the administrative center of Chernobyl Raion (district).

1929: Killings During Stalin's Collectivization Campaign

Between 1929 and 1933, Chernobyl suffered from killings during Stalin's collectivization campaign.

1933: Famine Due to Stalin's Policies

Between 1929 and 1933, Chernobyl was also affected by the famine that resulted from Stalin's policies.

1936: Deportation of Polish and German Community

In 1936, the Polish and German community of Chernobyl was deported to Kazakhstan during the Frontier Clearances.

August 1941: German Army Occupies Chernobyl

On 25 August 1941, during World War II, the German Army occupied Chernobyl.

November 1943: Chernobyl Liberated from German Army

On 17 November 1943, during World War II, Chernobyl was liberated from the German Army.

February 1970: Foundation of Pripyat

On 4 February 1970, Pripyat, an "atomograd" city, was founded near Chernobyl to serve the nuclear power plant.

August 1972: Construction of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Begins

On 15 August 1972, construction of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (officially the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant) began about 15 km northwest of Chernobyl.

1972: Chernobyl Chosen for Nuclear Power Plant

In 1972, Chernobyl was chosen as the site of Ukraine's first nuclear power plant, located 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of the city.

1972: Construction of Duga-1 Radio Receiver Begins

In 1972, construction began on the Duga-1 radio receiver, part of the larger Duga over-the-horizon radar array, 11 km west-northwest of Chernobyl. This was the origin of the Russian Woodpecker, designed as part of an anti-ballistic missile early-warning radar network.

1977: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Opens

In 1977, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant opened 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of the city.

April 1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Disaster

On 26 April 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded after a scheduled test was improperly carried out. Design flaws of the RBMK reactor contributed to the loss of control, leading to a thermal runaway.

May 1986: Chernobyl Evacuated After Disaster

On 5 May 1986, Chernobyl was evacuated nine days after the catastrophic nuclear disaster at the plant. Residents, along with those from nearby Pripyat, were relocated to Slavutych.

1986: High Levels of Contamination

In 1986, Chernobyl city was evacuated nine days after the disaster. The level of contamination with caesium-137 was around 555 kBq/m (surface ground deposition).

1988: Chernobyl Raion Dissolved

In 1988, after the disaster, the Chernobyl Raion was dissolved and administration was transferred to the neighboring Ivankiv Raion.

1991: Chernobyl Remains Part of Ukraine

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Chernobyl remained part of Ukraine within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which Ukraine inherited from the Soviet Union.

1998: Average Caesium-137 Doses

In 1998, average caesium-137 doses from the accident (estimated at 1–2 mSv per year) did not exceed those from other sources of exposure.

2003: Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme Launched

In 2003, the United Nations Development Programme launched the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP) for the recovery of affected areas. The main goal is to support the Government of Ukraine in mitigating long-term consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

2005: Archaeological Excavations Begin

In 2005, archaeological excavations began and continued until 2008, finding a cultural layer from the 10–12th centuries AD, predating Chernobyl's first documentary mention.

2008: Archaeological Excavations End

In 2008, archaeological excavations ended after beginning in 2005, and finding a cultural layer from the 10–12th centuries AD, predating Chernobyl's first documentary mention.

2019: Current Caesium-137 Dose Rates

As of 2019, current effective caesium-137 dose rates are 200–250 nSv/h, or roughly 1.7–2.2 mSv per year, comparable to the worldwide average background radiation from natural sources.

2019: Publication of "Roman Kyiv or Castrum Azagarium at Kyiv-Podil"

In 2019, Ukrainian architect Boris Yerofalov-Pylypchak published a book, Roman Kyiv or Castrum Azagarium at Kyiv-Podil.

July 2020: Ivankiv Raion Merged into Vyshhorod Raion

On 18 July 2020, as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, the area of Ivankiv Raion was merged into Vyshhorod Raion.

2020: Population in Chernobyl

In 2020, an estimated 150 people lived in Chernobyl, despite it technically being illegal to reside within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Authorities tolerate those who choose to live within some of the less irradiated areas.