A brave urban explorer has ventured deep into the heart of Ukraine's exclusion zone to document one of the most haunting relics of the Soviet era: an abandoned nuclear power plant that never saw completion.
The chilling footage, captured by explorer Bob Thissen, reveals the eerie remains of what was meant to be a sister site to the infamous Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Located just miles from the catastrophic disaster site, this facility was under construction during the 1986 accident and was subsequently abandoned.
Frozen in Time
Thissen's exploration reveals a control room frozen in a moment of history, with Soviet-era technology gathering dust and decay. Banks of switches, control panels, and instrumentation that would have managed nuclear reactions now sit silently, creating an atmosphere he describes as both "spooky and fascinating".
"The energy here is unbelievable," Thissen remarked. "Knowing this was supposed to be almost an exact copy of the Chernobyl plant sends shivers down your spine."
The Shadow of Chernobyl
The plant's abandonment serves as a stark reminder of how the Chernobyl disaster halted nuclear ambitions across the region. Construction workers fled along with the entire population of Pripyat, leaving behind tools, equipment, and a partially completed facility that nature has been reclaiming for nearly four decades.
Thissen documented various sections of the massive complex, including the reactor hall where the nuclear core would have been housed, and the turbine hall that would have generated electricity for the Soviet grid.
A Warning From History
Despite the obvious risks of radiation, Thissen took precautions during his exploration. The site, while less contaminated than the immediate Chernobyl area, still requires careful monitoring and protective equipment.
His footage provides a unique glimpse into what might have been, had history taken a different course. The abandoned plant stands as both a monument to Soviet engineering ambition and a sobering reminder of nuclear power's potential dangers.
Urban explorers and history enthusiasts continue to be drawn to these forbidden sites, seeking to document them before time and the elements complete their work of reclamation.
