History of Chernobyl in Timeline

Chernobyl is a partially abandoned city in Ukraine, located within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, approximately 90 km north of Kyiv. Once home to around 14,000 residents, it was evacuated following the catastrophic Chernobyl disaster in 1986. While residing within the Exclusion Zone is technically illegal, authorities have permitted some individuals to inhabit less contaminated areas of the city. As of 2020, the estimated population of Chernobyl was around 150 people.

1902: Uncertainty of Founding Date

The Polish Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland states that the exact founding date of Chernobyl was not known by 1902.

October 1905: Pogroms against Jewish population

In October 1905, the Jewish population of Chernobyl suffered greatly from pogroms.

1910: Chodkiewicz family ownership

Until 1910, the Chodkiewicz family owned a castle and a house in Chernobyl, even after selling the city to the state in 1896.

March 1918: Occupation by German Forces

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

April 1919: More pogroms against Jewish population

In March-April 1919, the Jewish population suffered greatly from more pogroms where many Jews were killed or robbed at the instigation of the Russian nationalist Black Hundreds.

1919: Polish-Soviet War fighting over Chernobyl

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

1920: End of Chernobyl as a Hasidic Center

In 1920, the Twersky Dynasty left Chernobyl, causing the city to cease functioning as a center of Hasidism.

1921: Incorporation into the Ukrainian SSR

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

1923: Chernobyl Becomes Administrative Center

From 1923, Chernobyl was the administrative center of Chernobyl Raion.

1929: Collectivization Killings

Beginning in 1929, Chernobyl suffered from killings during Stalin's collectivization campaign.

1933: Famine Effects

By 1933, Chernobyl was 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: Occupation by German Army

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

November 1943: Liberation from German occupation

On November 17, 1943, Chernobyl was liberated from German occupation during World War II. During the occupation, the remaining 400 Jews in Chernobyl were murdered during the Holocaust.

February 1970: Foundation of Pripyat

On February 4, 1970, Pripyat, an "atomograd" city, was founded to serve the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

August 1972: Construction Begins on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

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

1972: Chernobyl Selected as Nuclear Power Plant Site

In 1972, Chernobyl was chosen as the site for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, leading to increased prominence in the Soviet Union.

1972: Construction of Duga-1 Radio Receiver

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

1977: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Opens

In 1977, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant opened, located 15 kilometers north of Chernobyl.

April 1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Explosion

On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded due to improper testing procedures and design flaws in the RBMK reactor.

May 1986: Evacuation of Chernobyl and Pripyat

On May 5, 1986, nine days after the explosion at Reactor No. 4, the Soviet government began evacuating residents of Chernobyl and Pripyat, leading to their resettlement in Slavutych.

1986: Chernobyl Evacuated Nine Days After Disaster

Chernobyl city was evacuated nine days after the disaster in 1986. The level of contamination with caesium-137 was around 555 kBq/m.

1986: Chernobyl disaster leads to evacuation

In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster prompted the evacuation of the city. Following the evacuation, living within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone became technically illegal.

1988: Chernobyl Raion Dissolved

In 1988, Chernobyl Raion was dissolved and merged with Ivankiv Raion due to widespread radioactive contamination.

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.

1998: Average Caesium-137 Doses

By 1998, average caesium-137 doses from the Chernobyl accident were estimated at 1–2 mSv per year, not exceeding those from other sources of exposure.

2003: Launch of Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme

In 2003, the United Nations Development Programme launched the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP) to support Ukraine's efforts to mitigate the disaster's long-term consequences.

2005: Archaeological Excavations Begin

In 2005, archaeological excavations began in Chernobyl.

2008: Cultural Layer Discovery

Between 2005 and 2008, archaeological excavations revealed a cultural layer from the 10th to 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 worldwide average background radiation.

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

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

2020: Chernobyl's population estimate

As of 2020, the estimated population of Chernobyl was 150 people, even though living within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is technically illegal.

2020: Ivankiv Raion Dissolved

In 2020, Ivankiv Raion was dissolved and merged with Vyshhorod Raion during Ukraine's administrative reform.

February 2022: Russian Invasion Raises Nuclear Concerns

In February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked international concern about the stability of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, including Chernobyl.