Excusion Zone Tschernobyl - Photoexhibition
The Chernobyl Disaster
The Chernobyl disaster occurred during the night of April 25 to 26, 1986.
Details of the Disaster
Location: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the former Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine).
Time: The reactor accident happened on April 26, 1986, at 01:23 a.m. local time.
Reactor: Reactor Block 4 exploded as a result of a failed safety test.
Cause: A combination of serious design flaws in the RBMK-type reactor and human error.
Consequences
Large amounts of radioactive material were released into the atmosphere.
The radioactive cloud spread across vast areas of Europe.
30 workers and firefighters died immediately or shortly after the incident; thousands more fell ill over time.
The region surrounding the plant was turned into an exclusion zone, with the nearby city of Pripyat completely evacuated.
The Duga Radar System – The “Russian Woodpecker”
The Duga system, also known as the “Russian Woodpecker” radar, was indirectly connected to the Chernobyl disasterdue to its close proximity to the reactor and its role as part of the Soviet Union’s military and intelligence infrastructure. Here is a detailed breakdown:
What was Duga?
Type: A Soviet over-the-horizon radar (OTH) system
Purpose: Early-warning system to detect incoming intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches from the United States – a core Cold War project
Operational period: Approximately 1976 to 1989
Nickname in the West: “Russian Woodpecker” – due to its distinctive tapping sound heard worldwide on shortwave radios
Location and Connection to Chernobyl
Site: The Duga radar was located about 10 kilometers from the Chernobyl reactor, hidden deep in the forest near the secret military facility known as Chernobyl-2
Personnel & City: Many Duga personnel lived in Prypiat, just like the workers of the nearby nuclear power plant
Power Supply: Duga required a vast amount of electricity and was powered by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Relation to the Reactor Disaster
Direct technical connection: There is no evidence that Duga caused the reactor accident
Indirect connection:
The radar's proximity to the power plant meant that the entire Chernobyl-2 complex had to be evacuated and abandoned following the disaster
Due to radioactive contamination, the Duga system could not continue operation – the disaster effectively shut it down
Theories: Some conspiracy theories have suggested that a test or power surge related to Duga triggered the explosion – however, there is no credible evidence supporting this
Duga Today: A Ghost Structure
The massive steel array – about 150 meters tall and 500 meters long – still stands inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
It is one of the most iconic “lost places” in the region and a destination for many Chernobyl tours
Duga gained renewed fame through the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” and numerous YouTube documentaries
Chernobyl’s Role in the Ongoing War in Ukraine
Chernobyl plays a significant role in the current war in Ukraine, both symbolically and in terms of nuclear security.
Recent Events and Security Situation
On February 14, 2025, the protective sarcophagus over Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was damaged by a Russian drone strike. The drone hit the outer containment structure and caused a fire, which was successfully extinguished.
According to Ukrainian sources, the sarcophagus suffered significant structural damage, although radiation levels remained stable at the site.
Previous Occupation and Risks
At the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Russian troops occupied the area around Chernobyl. During this time, reports emerged of elevated radiation levels, possibly caused by military activity, such as heavy vehicles disturbing contaminated soil.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed serious concern about the safety of personnel and the integrity of the nuclear facility during the occupation.
Strategic and Symbolic Significance
Chernobyl is located about 130 kilometers north of Kyiv, near the border with Belarus, which gives it considerable strategic value.
In addition, Chernobyl holds deep symbolic significance in Ukrainian history – it stands for the 1986 nuclear disaster, which many regard as a turning point in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
International Reactions
The IAEA described the 2025 drone strike as a "very serious incident" and warned that nuclear safety in the region is under threat.
The international community is monitoring the situation with increasing concern, as further attacks on nuclear facilities could have catastrophic consequences.
The repeated attacks and continued military presence near Chernobyl highlight the growing risks posed by the war to nuclear safety infrastructure in Ukraine.
The Exhibition:
Echoes of Pripyat
Photographs by Eric Berger
June 23 – June 28, 2025
Museo del Aceite
Calle Huertos 11, Cómpeta (Málaga, Spain)
Opening hours: daily from 18:00 to 20:00
Finissage & Artist Talk with Eric Berger
Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 18:00
A city suspended in time. A zone of silence that still speaks.
Eric Berger presents a selection of ten large-format photographs taken in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Across three photographic expeditions, he explored Prypiat — Europe's most iconic ghost town.
The exhibition invites reflection on memory, abandonment, and the current political relevance of a place that, nearly four decades after the nuclear disaster, has once again become a theater of war.
The works are printed on acrylic-mounted Alu-Dibond, accompanied by short texts, QR codes, and a personal talk by the artist.
