The Ukrainian winter was long as usual, and the residents of Pripiat, a small village near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, are finally enjoying the warm weather. They lay around in the sun in front of the huge installation that provides, as promised by the communist government, electricity for everyone. But when a fire breaks out in the core the authorities keep it a secret. Anya (Olga Kurylenko) and Piotr have chosen this date to get married but it will also be their last day of happiness. As acid rain falls, the lives of this rural village are ruined forever.

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