On 26 April 1986, as an explosion rocked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, life in the nearby city of Pripyat appeared — at least on the surface — to continue as normal.
Among those moving ahead with their plans were Iryna Stetsenko, 19, and Serhiy Lobanov, 25, who were due to be married that same day, just 4km from the plant.
The wedding morning
In the early hours before the ceremony, residents reported unusual sounds and vibrations. Iryna recalled a low rumble and shaking windows, while Serhiy described feeling what he thought might have been a minor tremor.
Despite this, there was no clear information.
According to BBC News, Soviet authorities did not immediately disclose what had happened. Radio broadcasts remained silent, and when residents called for answers, they were told not to panic and to continue with planned events.
By morning, however, signs of disruption were visible. Soldiers in gas masks appeared the city, and streets were being washed down. At the market, unusually quiet for a Saturday, Serhiy bought a small bouquet of tulips for the bride.
“We knew something wasn’t right”
The wedding went ahead at Pripyat’s Palace of Culture, The couple exchanged vows in front of family and friends, but the mood was far from celebratory. Guests were aware that something had happened, even if the details were unclear.
“There was tension,” Serhiy later said to BBC. “Everyone understood something was wrong.”
At the reception, the atmosphere remained subdued. The couple had planned a traditional waltz for their first dance, but quickly fell out of step. Instead, they held each other and moved together quietly.
What was happening just kilometres away
While the wedding continued, reactor four at the plant had exploded during a failed safety test, triggering the Chernobyl disaster.
The blast released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere, affecting vast areas of Ukraine and beyond. Emergency crews worked through the night to contain the damage, many exposed to dangerous radiation levels.
Residents, however, were not immediately evacuated or fully informed.
A wedding cut short
In the early hours of the following morning, just hours after becoming husband and wife, Iryna and Serhiy were told to leave.
Evacuation trains were scheduled to depart at dawn. With little time to prepare, they gathered what they could. Iryna, who had no other suitable clothing on hand, ran through the streets in her wedding dress to return home and change before leaving.
Like thousands of others, they were told the evacuation would be temporary.
They never returned to Pripyat.
Life after Chernobyl
In the days following their evacuation, the couple stayed with family far from the exclusion zone. It was there that Iryna discovered she was pregnant.
At the time, there were widespread concerns about the potential effects of radiation exposure on unborn children. Despite the uncertainty, she continued with the pregnancy and later gave birth to a healthy daughter.
Over the years, the couple have said they believe the disaster may have affected their health, though this has not been medically confirmed.
Decades later
Today, Pripyat remains abandoned, and the reactor is sealed beneath a protective structure designed to contain radiation. While some areas are now considered safe for limited visits, the region is still heavily monitored.
For Iryna and Serhiy, the events of that day reshaped the course of their lives.
Their wedding, set against the backdrop of one of history’s most devastating nuclear accidents, was not the celebration they had imagined — but it marked the beginning of a marriage that has endured decades of upheaval.
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Feature image: BBC News
