Memorial «Zirka Polyn», Chernobyl

«The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven… and the name of the star is Wormwood». Millions recalled this line from the Book of Revelation in 1986, because «chornobyl» is the Ukrainian name for the wormwood plant (Artemisia). In the city of Chornobyl, this coincidence was given its own memorial — centered on a trumpeting angel.

Whether it’s coincidence or an eerie prophecy is for each visitor to decide. But standing before the bronze figure, you’ll feel a chill either way.

Quick Facts

What It Is and Why Visit

The «Wormwood Star» memorial is one of the most symbolic sites in the town of Chornobyl. At the center stands a bronze angel sounding a trumpet — a direct nod to the apocalyptic image of the falling star named Wormwood.

Beside the memorial runs an alley lined with plaques bearing the names of villages and settlements that were evacuated and effectively erased after the Chornobyl disaster. This isn’t a place for tech curiosity or «stalker» thrill-seeking — it’s about the scale of human loss: dozens of communities that no longer exist on any map.

History

The memorial was unveiled in 2011, marking the 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. The trumpeting angel was no random choice: it merges the Christian symbolism of the Apocalypse with a real tragedy that affected entire regions of Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Russia.

The name comes from that very coincidence: in East Slavic tradition, «chornobyl» refers to a species of wormwood (Artemisia). When the No. 4 reactor at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded on April 26, 1986, the biblical line about the «star Wormwood» that «made a third of the waters bitter» struck many as a fulfilled prophecy.

The Alley of Memory is a long row of plaques bearing the names of villages that were evacuated forever. Each plaque represents an entire community that no longer exists.

The Prophecy and the Mystique Around the Name

It’s the word «wormwood» itself that gave rise to Chornobyl’s most famous legend.

1. The Star Named Wormwood

The Book of Revelation describes a star called Wormwood falling on a third of the rivers and springs, «and the waters became bitter». The coincidence with the plant name «chornobyl» led many to believe the disaster had been foretold two thousand years earlier. Theologians point out it’s more likely a play on words than a literal prophecy — though that doesn’t make the coincidence any less striking.

2. The Angel That «Gave Warning»

Local lore adds that the trumpeting angel isn’t only a memorial — it’s also a symbolic warning to future generations about the price of carelessness with the peaceful atom. The memorial was deliberately designed to leave visitors with a sense of unease rather than solemn pride.

What to See Nearby

The «Wormwood Star» angel itself. The memorial’s centerpiece and the must-see shot.

The Alley of Destroyed Villages. Rows of plaques naming the resettled villages — the most emotionally powerful spot in the complex.

The town of Chornobyl. Nearby are other memorials in the zone, including the «To Those Who Saved the World» monument to the liquidators, a church, and the zone’s administrative buildings.

How to Get There

A note on access. After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the Exclusion Zone was occupied and later mined. As of 2026, tourist visits remain on hold: entry is possible only with accreditation from the relevant authorities. Regular tours to Chornobyl are currently not running.

When the zone was open. The memorial sits in the town of Chornobyl, reached on organized tours through the «Dytyatky» checkpoint with mandatory registration and an escort. Independent entry into the zone has always been illegal.

Traveler’s Checklist

• Accreditation and ID: without a permit, the zone is currently off-limits.
• Dosimeter: even in the town of Chornobyl, it’s worth keeping an eye on radiation levels.
• Closed clothing and shoes: the main hazard here is dust.
• Respect: this is a place of remembrance for the dead and for villages that no longer exist.

What NOT to do: stage loud photo shoots here, touch the plaques along the alley, or take anything out of the zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the memorial called the «Wormwood Star»?

The name refers to the line in the Book of Revelation about a star named Wormwood. «Chornobyl» is the folk name for wormwood, so the coincidence was embraced as a symbol of the 1986 disaster.

Can you visit the memorial now?

No. As of 2026, the Exclusion Zone is closed to tourists due to martial law and landmines. Only individuals with accreditation are allowed access.

What do the plaques near the memorial mean?

They bear the names of villages and settlements that were evacuated and effectively destroyed after the Chornobyl disaster. The alley commemorates these vanished communities.

When was the memorial installed?

In 2011, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

The «Wormwood Star» memorial doesn’t depict the consequences of the disaster — it depicts its meaning. The trumpeting angel and the alley of vanished villages together convey something no figures in sieverts or curies ever could.

Maybe it wasn’t a prophecy after all. But the name given to this place two thousand years before the explosion landed a little too close to home to ever forget.