Radioactive Butterfly

In 1974, former Soviet Russia decided to build the Ignalina nuclear power plant. A power plant with the same reactors as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Soviet Ukraine. To house the workers of the new power plant, a city was required. Four villages at the banks of Lake Visaginas were relocated to construct that city.

From the sky, it was supposed to appear as a butterfly. And, therefore, rightly be known as the butterfly city. This new city was called Sniečkus, after the name of the former secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party, Antanas Sniečkus. It was promoted as a real estate dream in all Soviet provinces. During the following years, thousands of people migrated to this city of fresh opportunities.

In the year 1986, reactor – 2 at Chernobyl power plant, blasted. Europe was covered under a radioactive cloud. The reliability of nuclear power plants was highly doubted. A team of scientists inspected Ignalina NPP, immediately after the accident at Chernobyl, and declared it safe. But, Soviet authorities permanently suspended the construction of Units – 3 & 4 of Ignalina.

In 1991, Ignalina NPP set a world record for generating 12,26 billion kWh electricity. This was the time when the Soviet Union was disintegrating, and Lithuania gained independence. After that, by a referendum, the Lithuanian government changed the name of Sniečkus city to Visaginas.

Independent Lithuania aspired to join the European Union. This was the moment when fear of the Chernobyl accident, struck residents of Visaginas. As a condition to join the European Union, Lithuania was asked to decommission Ignalina NPP. On the new year’s eve of 2009, the plant generated electricity for the last time.

Lithuania that once exported electricity now became an importer. Visaginas as a mono-functional town lost its stature. As planned, the city would’ve housed 50-70,000 people. But, the construction stopped midway. People who came here with dreams slowly started to disappear.

Ignalina NPP was the main source of activity and income for Visaginas. After its closure, every resident’s life was affected. A place that offered possibilities, turned barren to career opportunities. Those who could move out moved out. And, those who could not go anywhere, stayed with the anxiety of an uncertain future.

The younger generation of Visaginas is migrating out, for the same reasons that brought their parents or grandparents to the city. The second wing of the design for the city was never built. Now Visaginas, is a single winged butterfly, fluttering over the Soviet past and European future.

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Everyday Heroes

(Archival Photos Donated by Visaginas Regional Museum and, National Archives of Lithuania / Photographer - Unknown)

The residents of Visaginas came from all corners of the USSR. From Poland, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and many other countries, that are now sovereign states. Working at the power plant was a professional challenge, but the residents of Visaginas created a society in the then new born city.

The city was advertised as one of the best place to live in Soviet Russia. But, the people who came here made it so with their enthusiasm, and unity.

Those who not only constructed the city, but infused life into its streets, were the every day heroes of Visaginas, at that time known as Sniečkus.

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