Poliske (Ukrainian: Поліське) or Polesskoye (Russian: Полесское) is an abandoned settlement and former urban-type settlement in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, part of Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. It is located on the Uzh River and was an administrative center of Poliske Raion (district). However, later the town was taken out of a registry as it was completely depopulated being located in the Zone of alienation. Currently around 20 people live there, so called samosely ("self-settlers").[1]
Poliske
Поліське
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Former urban-type settlement
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Abandoned administrative building, 2009
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  Poliske Location of Poliske in Ukraine Show map of Kyiv Oblast Poliske Poliske (Ukraine) Show map of Ukraine | |
| Coordinates: 51°14′27.27″N 29°23′13.11″E / 51.2409083°N 29.3869750°E / 51.2409083; 29.3869750 | |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Oblast |  Kyiv Oblast |
| Raion | Poliske Raion (until 2020) Vyshhorod Raion (2020–present) Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (de facto) (1986–present) |
| Founded | 1415 |
| Status elevated (urban-type settlement) | 1938 |
| Removed from registries | 1999 |
| Population
(2013)
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| • Total | 20 |
| (ca 12,000 in 1986) | |
| Area code | +380 4592 |
Originally called KhabnoyeorKhabne (Russian: Хабное, Ukrainian: Хабне), it was renamed Kaganovichi PervyeorKahanovychi Pershi (Russian: Кагановичи Первые, Ukrainian: Кагановичі Перші) in 1934, and Poliske in 1957.
Founded in the 15th century, it was the home of the Polish family Horwatt from 1850 to 1918. In the 19th century, this small city was known for its weavers and its textile industry. In 1890, 80% of the population was Jewish. In the later half of the 19th century, and in the beginning of the 20th century, there was known a klezmer band of the Makonowiecki family. Khabne lost all its major architecture during the Soviet Union – the castle of Radziwiłł, Orthodox churches, and the Catholic Church. In 1938, Khabne received official city status. After the Chernobyl disaster, Khabne's population started to fall off. In 1999, the remaining population was evacuated. In 2005, there were about 1,000 people still living there, mostly senior citizens.[citation needed][2]
From February to April 2022, Poliske was occupied by Russia as a result of the 2022 invasion.
Following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident, a Zone of Alienation (Ukrainian: Зона відчуження Чорнобильської АЕС, zona vidchuzhennya Chornobyl's'koyi AES), also known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the 30 Kilometre Zone, or simply The Zone (Ukrainian: Чорнобильська зона, Chornobyl's'ka zona) was designated by the USSR military after the 1986 disaster.[3] Initially, 30 km radius area was evacuated and placed under military control, however, over time the borders of the Zone of Alienation have increased to cover a larger area of contamination.[4] The zone is now approximately 2,600 km2 (1,000 sq miles), where radioactive fallout contamination is highest.[5] Public access and inhabitation is restricted due to radiological hazards and allow for ecological monitoring by environmental scientists.[6] Ten "self settlers" have remained in the nuclear ghost town.
Located in the north-western corner of Kyiv Oblast, at the borders with Zhytomyr Oblast, Poliske is part of the natural region of Polesia, and is 27 km from the Belarusian border. Crossed by the regional highway P02 Ovruch-Kyiv (135 km south), the town lies between Vilcha (17 km north) and Krasiatychi (27 km south). It is 41 km far from Narodychi, 53 from Ovruch and Ivankiv, 58 from Pripyat and 65 from Chernobyl.[7]
Media related to Poliske at Wikimedia Commons