During the Christmas holidays we were very happy to provide the Ukrainian Language and Culture Program in Lviv, Ukraine for the Fulbrighters. They are so cool team!
One of them Ryan Wolfe is researching in Lviv for nine months the impact of Lviv’s public memorials, museums, and statues on Ukrainian historical memory and national identity. He is writing his blog about his research and trips.

One of the most interesting stories there is about his trip to Chornobyl: “We were also very fortunate to have our tour be led by a former army engineer, who – along with thousands of others – was tasked with liquidating the area surrounding the power plant immediately after the disaster. He is a living reminder of the sacrifices made by thousands of individuals tasked with containing the fallout of the Chernobyl disaster. For our first stop of the trip, we explored an abandoned village located roughly 30 kilometers from the power plant. Due to the village’s proximity to the plant, its residents were forced to evacuate soon after the explosion, leaving behind many of their belongings in the process. As our guide pointed out, some residents in other villages refused to leave, mainly because their families had lived in these villages for generations. For them, they were giving up more than a place to live – they were giving up an integral and irreplaceable part of their identity, as well. The buildings depicted below serve as a remnant of those who did evacuate as well as a stark reminder of the long-lasting consequences of nuclear disaster. It was remarkable and saddening to me how life could stop so suddenly in these areas, never to return again.

Interestingly, however, I was able to spot some semblance of life and human connection in a monument at the entrance of the village (shown in the last two pictures). The monument is dedicated to villagers who fought and died during the Second World War as part of the Soviet Red Army. What I found fascinating is that individuals STILL lay flowers and reeves at the foot of the monument even though its village has not been occupied for over 33 years. In my opinion, these simple acts reflect the amazing lengths people will go to preserve their personal heritage. Regardless of the obstacles, individuals continue to memorialize family members, neighbors, and other village residents, and to me that is quite remarkable. After the village, we had an unexpected stop on the way to Chernobyl 2 to watch a group of wild horses. According to our guide, these horses were brought in from the Mongolian steppe to help re-establish the area’s ecosystem. We thought this was somewhat problematic since the horses were – and still are – being exposed to unnatural levels of radiation. It was still interesting to see a pack of wild horses in an area with very few animals.” The continuation is here
https://ryanpwolfe96.wixsite.com/website/post/my-trip-to-chernobyl-october-11-2019
Thank you, Ryan, for sharing your stoires with us!