History of Chernobyl in Timeline

Chernobyl, located in Ukraine, is a partially abandoned city within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Prior to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, it housed approximately 14,000 residents. Following the disaster, the city was evacuated, though some residents have since returned to less irradiated areas. As of 2020, the estimated population was 150 people. The city remains a significant site due to the nuclear accident and its ongoing environmental impact.

1902: Unknown Founding Date

In 1902, The Polish Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland stated that the founding date of the city of Chernobyl was unknown.

October 1905: Pogroms Against the Jewish Population

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

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

April 1919: Pogroms Against the Jewish Population

In April 1919, the Jewish population of Chernobyl suffered greatly from pogroms, during which many were killed or robbed at the instigation of the Russian nationalist Black Hundreds.

1919: Polish-Soviet War

During 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: End of Chernobyl as a Center of Hasidism

In 1920, when the Twersky Dynasty left Chernobyl, the city ceased to exist as a center of Hasidism.

1921: Incorporation into the Ukrainian SSR

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

1923: Chernobyl as administrative center

From 1923 onwards, Chernobyl was the administrative centre of Chernobyl Raion.

1929: Stalin's Collectivization

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: Occupation by the German Army

On August 25, 1941, during World War II, Chernobyl was occupied by the German Army. Only 400 Jews remained in Chernobyl at that time.

November 1943: Liberation from German Occupation

On November 17, 1943, Chernobyl was liberated from German occupation during World War II. The 400 Jews who remained were murdered during the Holocaust.

February 1970: Founding of Pripyat

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

August 1972: Construction of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Begins

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

1972: Selection as Nuclear Power Plant Site

In 1972, Chernobyl was selected as the site for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union, increasing its prominence.

1972: Construction of Duga-1 Radio Receiver

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

1977: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Opens

In 1977, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant opened 15 kilometers north of Chernobyl, with Pripyat constructed nearby to house the facility's workers.

April 1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Explosion

On April 26, 1986, one of the reactors at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded due to a flawed test procedure and design flaws in the RBMK reactor.

May 1986: Evacuation of Chernobyl and Pripyat

On May 5, 1986, after the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Chernobyl was evacuated. The residents, along with those of nearby Pripyat, were relocated to Slavutych.

1986: Evacuation and Contamination Levels

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

1986: Chernobyl Disaster

In 1986, after the Chernobyl disaster, the city of Chernobyl was evacuated, leading to its partial abandonment. The adjacent city of Pripyat was completely abandoned.

1988: Dissolution of Chernobyl Raion

In 1988, Chernobyl Raion, with Chernobyl as its administrative center since 1923, was dissolved and merged with Ivankiv Raion due to widespread radioactive contamination.

1991: Chernobyl Remains Part of Ukraine

In 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Chernobyl remained part of Ukraine within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

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: Launch of Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme

In 2003, the United Nations Development Programme launched the Chernobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP) to mitigate the long-term social, economic, and ecological consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

2005: Archaeological Excavations

Archaeological excavations conducted from 2005 to 2008 uncovered a cultural layer dating back to the 10-12th centuries AD, predating Chernobyl's first documentary mention.

2008: Archaeological Excavations

Archaeological excavations conducted from 2005 to 2008 uncovered a cultural layer dating back to 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.

2020: Merger with Vyshhorod Raion

In 2020, during Ukraine's administrative reform, Ivankiv Raion, which had previously absorbed Chernobyl Raion, was dissolved and merged with Vyshhorod Raion.

2020: Population Estimate

In 2020, the population of Chernobyl was estimated to be 150 people, despite living within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone technically being illegal.

February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Concerns About Nuclear Facilities

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