Life as a Meteorologist in Chernobyl: Insights from 40 Years of Russian Occupation

On February 24, 2022, as Russian forces advanced into Ukraine, Lyudmila Dyblenko, head of the Chernobyl meteorological observatory, ordered her staff to evacuate. Unfortunately, she was unable to escape, as the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear plant fell under Russian occupation.

“We started gathering equipment and monitors, but it was too late,” Dyblenko recounted in the modest hut that hosts the weather station. Despite the dire circumstances, she heroically resolved to continue essential measurements—radiation, temperature, wind, and rainfall—that are crucial for scientists monitoring the situation in Chernobyl. “I chose to keep working,” she stated. “I truly love my job and my country.”

While monitoring is typically automated, power outages by March 9 left her equipment inoperable, making heating and cooking virtually impossible. The hut became the warmest refuge during her winter stay in Chernobyl, with a fire continuously lit and a comfortable desk to work at. Under occupation, conditions were increasingly challenging.

Dyblenko meticulously tracked Russian patrols, timing her exits to collect manual measurements, eventually using an older cell phone to transmit data due to its superior reception capabilities. Situated in the highlands of Chernobyl, she discovered nearby spots—a church and a truck park—where weak signals permitted data extraction.

“There is software that automatically compiles and sends data, but that was impossible during the power outage,” Dyblenko explained. “We had to do it manually.”

Unfortunately, as time passed, Russian soldiers grew bolder. At one point, someone forced their way into her house demanding cognac. She cleverly defused the situation by treating him as a mischievous child, saying, “Is this a restaurant?” Fortunately, he retreated, showing the power of her quick thinking.

Eventually, she spotted a small red light in the bushes near her scientific equipment, realizing a surveillance device had been placed there. Ignoring the threat, she persisted in her crucial work.

Thanks to her relentless efforts, there were no gaps in the data collected, allowing for uninterrupted scientific analysis of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone during the occupation. In recognition of her bravery, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded her one of the few medals given to a meteorologist during the ongoing conflict, a testament to her remarkable courage.