Ukraine seeks U NESTO World Heritage status for Chernobyl area

In the ghost city of Pripya and its most popular neighboring town of Chernobil, many visitors roamed between buildings and roads where thousands of people remained evacuated over three decades ago.

The ChernobylZa “is a world-renowned reference point”, Maksym Polivko said during a tour in the already cold-free city.

But today this area has no official status”, he indicated, while adding that very soon this could change under the government's initiative to include Chernobly on the list of U's heritage NESTO.

Officials hope its recognition by the UN agency will boost tourism in the country and in turn strengthen efforts to preserve ancient and old buildings near that area.

The explosion at the fourth reactor at the nuclear power plant in April 1986 caused parts of Ukraine and part of Belarus to be severely affected by radiation.

Ukrainian authorities say this area cannot be certain of living for at least 24,000 years.