On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, situated near the city of Pripyat in the Ukrainian SSR, experienced a catastrophic failure during a safety test. The explosion resulted in a massive release of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, creating a crisis that extended far beyond the immediate vicinity of the plant. In light of the disaster, Soviet authorities initiated an evacuation of Pripyat, a city predominantly composed of workers from the plant, their families, and surrounding communities. The evacuation began in the late afternoon and was executed under the premise that residents would be away for only a few days. Approximately 49,000 residents were evacuated, many of whom were instructed to bring only essential items, leaving behind homes, pets, and belongings. The operation was swift but chaotic, with residents receiving little information about the severity of the situation. Over the following days, the evacuation expanded to encompass surrounding areas, affecting thousands more who were at risk of exposure to radiation. In the subsequent weeks, the full extent of the fallout from the explosion became apparent, and more than 100,000 people were eventually relocated from the affected zone. The city of Pripyat has since been largely abandoned, becoming a haunting symbol of the disaster and the human cost of nuclear energy accidents. Today, Pripyat remains in a state of decay, with nature reclaiming the territory once inhabited by a thriving community.