03/07/2026
40 years after the Chornobyl disaster, radiation monitoring of local residents is still taking place in villages surrounding the Exclusion Zone.
This week, I took part in one of these examinations in the village of Orane, located just outside the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
Organized by Ukraine’s State Specialized Enterprise "Ecocentre", these examinations measure the presence of radioactive substances in the human body and form part of a long-term public health and environmental monitoring program. Nearly four decades after the 1986 disaster, this work continues to provide valuable scientific data and help protect the health of people living in affected areas.
For many people, Chornobyl is a chapter in history. For the residents of villages surrounding the Exclusion Zone, however, it remains part of everyday life. Regular radiation monitoring, environmental research, and health surveillance continue year after year.
Nearly four decades after the world’s worst nuclear accident, scientists continue their routine work. The only thing nobody planned for was having to do it during a full-scale war.
The photos below were taken during the Ecocentre team’s visit to Orane. While routine for local residents, these visits offer a rare glimpse into the ongoing scientific work that continues long after the world’s attention has faded.
Chornobyl is not only a story of the past. It is also a story of science, resilience, and the long-term commitment to understanding how people and nature continue to adapt after the world’s worst nuclear accident.
Learn more about Ecocentre’s work:
https://eco-centre.com.ua/news/
