The town of Chernobyl itself, near the ill-fated nuclear power plant, was initially completely evacuated. It has since become a hive of activity. Among other things, it serves as the base for the military police operating in the exclusion zone, ensuring that no one can enter without authorization. It is also home to many people who still work in and around the nuclear power plant. A monument commemorating the disaster has been erected in the central square, opposite the still-functioning Chernobyl church.

The focal point of the memorial is the statue of the "third angel," referring to the New Testament, Revelation 8:10-11: 'The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch; and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star was Bitter. A third of the waters became bitter, and many people died because of their bitterness'.

Because of the reference to 'Bitter' (the name of the plant after which Chernobyl was named), speculation began that the Bible had predicted the Chernobyl disaster...