History
After the disaster Ivan and his wife Maria were evacuated to an apartment block near Kiev. Hating the city, within two years they returned to their village just a few miles from the Chernobyl power plant, where they have steadfastly remained ever since. Today in their 80s they share what remains of Paryshiv village with just three other residents.
Our visit
It was a privilege to meet Ivan and Maria. Ivan in particular seemed to really enjoy the attention, proudly showing off his car (a Zaporozhsky apparrently) even though it hasn’t worked for a number of years.
As always, click on a photo to VIEW LARGE
First a couple of shots taken in an abandoned house nearby in the village…
Ivan showing off his car…
Some of the vast supply of firewood needed to combat the harsh Ukrainian winters.
Maria stood outside her front porch…
Another day we stopped briefly to explore some of the other buildings at far side of the village, abandoned in overgrown scrubland…
What looked like perhaps an old village hall?
As I picked my way through the overgrowth a flash of movement caught my eye… it was this little snake. This is about the best shot I managed to grab before it slithered away (click on the photo for a better view).
Many possessions were left behind during the evacuation – include this pair of false legs!
Thanks for visiting.
Adam X