Chernobyl Firefighter
This man was one of the firefighters at Chernobyl in the 1980s, and nobody could figure out how he was still alive in 2003. This image was taken in the village of my now ex-wife, and he was her cousin. I think he has since passed away, but it's crazy to think he was at Chernobyl and survived. If you ever read Svetlana Alexievich's book about Chernobyl, it's all the more remarkable. I read about half of the book, and it's so devastating that I couldn't finish it. --- Jeremy Hogan, September 8, 2026
A man with a mustache, wearing a patterned sweater and dark trousers, sits on a wooden floor, holding an infant dressed in a yellow long-sleeved top and light-colored socks. They are positioned next to a large, light-colored tiled stove, which features a metal door. In the background, a kitchen area is visible with light green patterned wallpaper, wooden cabinets, and various household items. The man looks towards the right side of the frame. Photographed by Jeremy Hogan.Photo: Jeremy Hogan
This man was one of the firefighters at Chernobyl in the 1980s, and nobody could figure out how he was still alive in 2003. This image was taken in the village of my now ex-wife, and he was her cousin. I think he has since passed away, but it's crazy to think he was at Chernobyl and survived. If you ever read Svetlana Alexievich's book about Chernobyl, it's all the more remarkable. I read about half of the book, and it's so devastating that I couldn't finish it. --- Jeremy Hogan, September 8, 2026