Photographer Reflects on Chernobyl's Ongoing Struggles in New Book

Photographer Pierpaolo Mittica has published a new book documenting life in Chernobyl, focusing on the communities that inhabit the exclusion zone nearly four decades after the catastrophic nuclear disaster of 1986. Since first visiting the site in 2002, Mittica has captured poignant images of the few thousand residents who returned to their villages after evacuation. His work spans over six years, illustrating the lives of children affected by radiation, reactor operators, military personnel, and scientists examining the long-term impacts of the accident.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has hampered recovery efforts in the region, now heavily mined and restricted to unauthorized access. “Despite being one of the most contaminated places on Earth, the Chernobyl dead zone was full of life before the war,” Mittica remarked, reflecting on the stark contrast to the current conditions. His hope is for the book to serve as a memorial not only to the place but also to the people he encountered, many of whom are no longer alive due to radiation-related health issues.

As the book launch coincides with heightened tensions in Eastern Europe, Mittica's project brings renewed attention to the lingering effects of the Chernobyl disaster and the resilience of its surviving population.