Last updated on December 19, 2023.

Lenin Avenue was the main road into Pripyat. At the corner of Lenin Avenue and Kurchatova Street was 32/13 Lenin Avenue, a residential building with a furniture store on the ground floor. It was surrounded by a few public places and shops.

Looking down Lenin Avenue in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Looking down Lenin Avenue
32/13 Lenin Avenue in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
32/13 Lenin Avenue
Furniture store in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Furniture store

Looking down Kurchatova, it’s possible to spot a 16-story building with a hammer and sickle on the top. That building had a library on the ground floor.

16-story building in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
16-story building

 

Main Square

Pripyat’s large main square sat at the end of Lenin Avenue. It was surrounded by several public places (see below). A Soviet flag flies from one of the flagpoles in the square.

Main square in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Main square
Main square in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Main square
Main square in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Trees growing in the middle of the main square
Soviet flag in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Soviet flag

 

City Administration Building

On the far east side of the square is city administration building. During the Chernobyl disaster, authorities continued to use this building as the disaster control headquarters.

City administration building in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
City administration building
City administration building in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
City administration building

 

Hotel Polissya

Next to it was the Hotel Polissya (Готе́ль Полісся). It was used by workers and the authorities during the disaster control period. The hotel originally accommodated guests and visitors of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was built in the 1970s.

Hotel Polissya in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Hotel Polissya
Hotel Polissya in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Hotel Polissya
Hotel Polissya in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Sign on top of the Hotel Polissya
Hotel Polissya in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Hotel Polissya
Hotel Polissya lounge in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Lounge of the Hotel Polissya

 

Palace of Culture “Energetik”

A colonnade separates the hotel from the Palace of Culture “Energetik” (Дворец культуры “Энергетик”), which had a pool, dance hall, movie theatre, boxing ring, and other entertainment. Behind the colonnade was a park, part of which was going to be used as an amusement park for May Day and Victory Day celebrations that never took place.

Colonnade in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Colonnade
Palace of Culture "Energetik" in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Palace of Culture “Energetik”
Palace of Culture "Energetik" in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Palace of Culture “Energetik”

 

Shopping Center

On the west end of the square was a shopping center that consisted of a supermarket and restaurant.

Shopping center in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Shopping center
Shopping center in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Shopping center
Supermarket in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Supermarket
Supermarket in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Supermarket
Supermarket in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Signs in the supermarket
Restaurant in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Restaurant
Restaurant in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Restaurant

 

Storage Room

A city storage room was located in the back of the Palace of Culture. It was filled with items for the upcoming May Day celebration.

City storage room in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
City storage room
City storage room in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
Sign inside the city storage room
City storage room in Pripyat, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
City storage room

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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