Nuclear Age

The nuclear age began in Eastern Europe in the period after the Second World War, when the Soviet Union and its satellite states began to develop nuclear energy and nuclear research. Prior to this, there had also been attempts to develop nuclear weapons in the Third Reich, some of which can be seen in East Germany and Poland.

The development of nuclear energy in Eastern Europe was closely linked to the race for nuclear weapons during the Cold War. As a world power, the Soviet Union strove to catch up with the United States in the development of nuclear weapons. This led to the development and testing of nuclear weapons, the terrible effects of which can still be seen today in many parts of Russia and also in Kazakhstan.

In addition to military use, nuclear technology was also used for civilian purposes. Nuclear power plants were built in several Eastern European countries to meet the growing demand for energy.

However, the reactor accident at Chernobyl in 1986 was a turning point in the history of nuclear energy in Eastern Europe and worldwide. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, still leaves its mark today, which can be explored on a visit to the ghost town of Pripyat as part of a Chernobyl tour.

Nevertheless, nuclear energy still forms the backbone of the energy supply in many Eastern European countries, which is why the topic is a recurring theme at Wild East.