Half-Lives: The Chernobyl Workers Now

Slavutych in Northern Ukraine was set up by the Soviet government shortly after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to accommodate people evacuated from the proximity of the nuclear plant. The city was designed to provide the inhabitants with modern amenities and a comfortable life. First people moved in their new homes in 1988.

In 2000, under international pressure, the Ukrainian government shut down the final operating reactor in Chernobyl. As a result, there was a massive job loss for the community of Slavutych. Retired workers survive on small pensions and have to deal with the consequences of decades of radiation exposure. Younger workers continue to disassemble the plant, but many worry about the uncertainty that lies ahead.