The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is no longer just a relic of the past—it’s a frontline.
40 years after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, the danger has returned. We spent four days inside the Zone to witness how Russia’s full-scale invasion has transformed this radioactive wilderness into a modern battlefield.
Our guides were Stalkers — a couple who once explored the Zone in secret, and now defend Ukraine.
Our route lies through:
Unit 4 & The New Safe Confinement: We document the heart of the 1986 disaster and provide exclusive footage of the Russian "Shahed" drone strike on the Arch.
The Old Sarcophagus: A rare look at the original "Object Shelter"—the decaying shield that stood alone against the radiation for 30 years.
The Duga Radar: A massive Cold War-era Soviet relic overlooking a border now dominated by modern Electronic Warfare (EW).
The Ghost City of Prypiat: Exploring the abandoned streets where the forest is reclaiming the remains of a lost civilization.
During our expedition, we lost two drones due to proximity to the Belarusian border and intense Russian EW interference.
Our Mission: To show the world that the Exclusion Zone is a global security threat once again. This piece draws a parallel between the ruins of Prypiat and modern-day Ukraine, reminding us that 40 years later, Ukrainians are once again fighting for the survival of the entire continent.
Watch to see the exclusive footage of the damaged Arch and the reality of Chornobyl in 2026.
Video sources:
1. Chornobyl Power Plant archives
2. Collections of the Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive
3. Chornobyl radiation and ecological biosphere reserve footage
Special thanks to those who made it possible:
The 12th Army Corps, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Security Service of Ukraine.
Feschenko Volodymyr, Mudryk Nadiia, and Berezhnova Polina
from the State Exclusion Zone Management Agency.
Lanko Denys, Oliinichenko Natalia, and Ilnitsklii Vasyl, Starovoitov Igor and Vitalii Medvid
from the International Cooperation & Information Dept, and the Physical Protection Service team of the Chornobyl NPP.
Vyshnevskii Denys, Domashevskii Serhii, Obrizan Serhii, Kudrenko Svitlana, and Victoria
from the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve.
Makarova Tetiana, and Rezon Nadiia
from The Collection of the Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
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❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
🔔 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is no longer just a relic of the past—it’s a frontline.
40 years after the world’s worst nuclear disaster, the danger has returned. We spent four days inside the Zone to witness how Russia’s full-scale invasion has transformed this radioactive wilderness into a modern battlefield.
Our guides were Stalkers — a couple who once explored the Zone in secret, and now defend Ukraine.
Our route lies through:
Unit 4 & The New Safe Confinement: We document the heart of the 1986 disaster and provide exclusive footage of the Russian "Shahed" drone strike on the Arch.
The Old Sarcophagus: A rare look at the original "Object Shelter"—the decaying shield that stood alone against the radiation for 30 years.
The Duga Radar: A massive Cold War-era Soviet relic overlooking a border now dominated by modern Electronic Warfare (EW).
The Ghost City of Prypiat: Exploring the abandoned streets where the forest is reclaiming the remains of a lost civilization.
During our expedition, we lost two drones due to proximity to the Belarusian border and intense Russian EW interference.
Our Mission: To show the world that the Exclusion Zone is a global security threat once again. This piece draws a parallel between the ruins of Prypiat and modern-day Ukraine, reminding us that 40 years later, Ukrainians are once again fighting for the survival of the entire continent.
Watch to see the exclusive footage of the damaged Arch and the reality of Chornobyl in 2026.
Video sources:
1. Chornobyl Power Plant archives
2. Collections of the Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive
3. Chornobyl radiation and ecological biosphere reserve footage
Special thanks to those who made it possible:
The 12th Army Corps, the National Guard of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Security Service of Ukraine.
Feschenko Volodymyr, Mudryk Nadiia, and Berezhnova Polina
from the State Exclusion Zone Management Agency.
Lanko Denys, Oliinichenko Natalia, and Ilnitsklii Vasyl, Starovoitov Igor and Vitalii Medvid
from the International Cooperation & Information Dept, and the Physical Protection Service team of the Chornobyl NPP.
Vyshnevskii Denys, Domashevskii Serhii, Obrizan Serhii, Kudrenko Svitlana, and Victoria
from the Chornobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve.
Makarova Tetiana, and Rezon Nadiia
from The Collection of the Central State Audiovisual and Electronic Archive.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
👋 Like our content? Become our sponsor and get even more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-xHRN9CnoXto5gcPskANA/join
❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
🔔 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
The rise of drone warfare represents a challenge for countries all around the globe. What started in Ukraine has spread to the Middle East: Swarms of drones, accompanied by barrages of missiles, can overwhelm classic air defense systems, causing destruction, despair, and panic. But there are solutions to counter this threat, and we want to introduce them to you in this report.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
👋 Like our content? Become our sponsor and get even more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-xHRN9CnoXto5gcPskANA/join
❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
🔔 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
The rise of drone warfare represents a challenge for countries all around the globe. What started in Ukraine has spread to the Middle East: Swarms of drones, accompanied by barrages of missiles, can overwhelm classic air defense systems, causing destruction, despair, and panic. But there are solutions to counter this threat, and we want to introduce them to you in this report.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
👋 Like our content? Become our sponsor and get even more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-xHRN9CnoXto5gcPskANA/join
❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
🔔 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
Watch real-life war footage from Ukrainian social media: the latest missions, daring raids, and covert operations. See the recapture of the Vovchansk power plant, the repulse of massive Russian attacks in the Donetsk region, naval drone strikes in the Black Sea, marines fighting in Krynki, war-torn Toretsk under siege by Moscow forces, and much more. From the battlefields of Ukraine and the Kursk region—straight to your home. Experience the real war in Ukraine.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
👋 Like our content? Become our sponsor and get even more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-xHRN9CnoXto5gcPskANA/join
❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
👋 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
Watch real-life war footage from Ukrainian social media: the latest missions, daring raids, and covert operations. See the recapture of the Vovchansk power plant, the repulse of massive Russian attacks in the Donetsk region, naval drone strikes in the Black Sea, marines fighting in Krynki, war-torn Toretsk under siege by Moscow forces, and much more. From the battlefields of Ukraine and the Kursk region—straight to your home. Experience the real war in Ukraine.
🇺🇦 Firsthand news from the epicenter of global events
👋 Like our content? Become our sponsor and get even more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX-xHRN9CnoXto5gcPskANA/join
❗️News & Analysis: https://united24media.com/
👋 News on Ukraine and Ukrainian perspective on global security https://www.youtube.com/@United24News
💪 When fighting for freedom, every penny counts. Donate to support Ukraine now on https://u24.gov.ua/uk
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