The Belarusian exclusion zone (Chernobyl zone).

Almost four decades have passed since the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but interest in the "Zone" has not faded.

If much is known about the Ukrainian part, then its Belarusian segment has remained in the shadows for a long time. Today, official tours have made it possible to enter this unique and tragic world.

The Belarusian exclusion zone is primarily the Polessky State Radiation and Ecological Reserve (PGREZ). This is a huge territory where nature, freed from the direct influence of man, demonstrates an amazing ability to regenerate. Unlike popular tours to Pripyat, the focus here has shifted from Soviet urban heritage to abandoned villages and natural ecosystems.

The routes offered by the agencies are arranged according to a certain scheme that guarantees both safety and diving. First of all, this is strict instruction and control. Access to the territory is possible only through checkpoints (checkpoints "Babchin", "Maidan"), where documents are checked and mandatory instruction on radiation safety is carried out.

The journey often begins with a museum, where you can see maps of pollution, unique exhibits — household items from resettled villages, stuffed animals living in the reserve. It helps you realize the scale of the tragedy and understand where you are heading.

The main "characters" of the excursions are the abandoned villages. Streets overgrown with forest, ruins of houses, schools and kindergartens where time stopped in 1986. There is no post-apocalyptic horror here, but a quiet, aching sadness that makes you think about the fragility of human existence.

The absence of humans allowed nature to flourish. Herds of bison and horses are walking in the fields, and the population of lynxes and bears has recovered in the forests. This is a rare chance to see how the ecosystem is recovering on its own, albeit at the cost of a monstrous catastrophe.

Everyone has their own motivation to come here: some are attracted by the "stalkerish" romance and interest in the history of man—made disasters, others by the desire to see the power of wildlife, and others by a deep need to honor the memory of the tragedy and "reset" their perception of the world.

This is not an entertainment trip. It's an experience that leaves a complex range of feelings, from grief and anxiety to admiration for the power of life. This is a journey into a parallel world that exists not far from us, but lives according to completely different laws.

There is no exact address of the checkpoint in the village of Babchin, which is located on the territory of the Polessky Radiation and Ecological Reserve, as it is a protected area with checkpoints at the entrance, and not a specific object with an address on the map. To get to the reserve, you should contact the administration of the Polessky Radiation and Ecological Reserve, which is located in the city of Khoiniki, at 7 Tereshkova Street. 

Official information: To obtain permission to visit or information on how to get to the reserve, it is best to contact the administration of the Polessky Radiation Reserve.

Administration contacts:

Address: 7 Tereshkova St., Khoiniki, Gomel region, Belarus.

Phone: +375 (2346) 45239 (reserve information service).

Official website: zapovednik.by