Kopachi Kindergarden

Kopachi village is situated just four kilometers south of the Chernobyl Power Plant, with its kindergarten positioned along the route connecting Pripyat and Chernobyl. In 1986, the village had a population of 1,114 residents. However, the catastrophic events of that year left Kopachi heavily contaminated with radioactive fallout. Today, only the kindergarten and the remnants of a machine and tractor station remain from the village. All other structures were systematically demolished and buried, one by one. A trench was excavated in front of the kindergarten, allowing the engineering demolition machine 'IMR-1' to dismantle and bury the homes. The government overlooked the potential danger of these contaminated buildings leaching radioactive isotopes into the groundwater.

Constructed in 1967, the kindergarten boasts a plaque on its facade that reads: 'Built in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution.' Its architecture stands out, showcasing a beautiful Palladian style in brick, quite different from the typical square Soviet designs found in Pripyat. Experts believe it may outlast the high-rise buildings of Pripyat. Inside the kindergarten, visitors can find children's lockers filled with toys on one side of the hall, while the opposite side features a space for parents. As you explore the corridors, you can access two bedrooms and a library. The surviving kindergarten building in Kopachi, along with its interior, was featured in the documentary "Life after People," which included a segment on the city of Pripyat. Remarkably, the kindergarten withstood a nearby forest fire in 2020.