Slavutych may look drab to the western eye, but by the standards of Ukraine this Soviet Milton Keynes is as good as it gets. But despite being in rude health, Slavutych appears condemned to a premature death. When the Chernobyl station closed for ever yesterday, it signalled that the good life for the inhabitants of Slavutych is over. The town's raison d'etre has vanished. The future is gloomy.
Jobs are scarce.
Money is getting short. And the population is anxious. Almost all of our budget comes from Chernobyl taxes. A German nuclear engineer working at Chernobyl and living in Slavutych says that the authorities have known for more than five years that they were closing Chernobyl. But, he shakes his head in disgust, they have done ab solutely nothing to prepare Slavutych for an early grave.