Entry to Pripyat Buildings Now Prohibited

Obviously, the controlling agencies feel that the buildings are no longer safe to enter. Having been in Pripyat last year, I would agree that some buildings are probably close to collapsing, but others still seem to be sound structures. When you think about it though, any building anywhere in the world probably seems to be structurally sound until the day it collapses.

I am sure that a prohibition policy was being discussed in July 2005 after a section of School #1 in Pripyat collapsed. Apparently no one was in the building (or even in the city) when the collapse occurred, but it made everyone aware that there are more dangers lurking in the city than just radiation. I can tell you first-hand that wood floors throughout the city have deteriorated quite a bit. In some places, such as a hallway in School #1, you can just about put your foot through the floor (you probably could if there was not a heavy plastic covering over the wood).

So, what does this mean for people who still want to visit Pripyat? There is no regulation against visiting the city and trips still do occur. The question is whether or not you will be allowed to enter the buildings. Officially, that is not allowed. In reality, visitors to the city still do enter the buildings. The key is that now, more than ever, you are taking a personal risk by entering the buildings. Some would say you take a personal risk just by traveling in the Exclusion Zone, much less entering decaying buildings. I believe it is a personal decision, and as long as you know all the facts (including how health care works in Ukraine - your medical insurance may not cover you there, so be ready to pay cash for your treatment), I see no reason to cancel your plans for a trip to Chernobyl. If you do visit Pripyat, all I can say is check out some general Ukraine travel tips and be careful and be respectful of everything you see in Pripyat and the entire Zone.