Thirty years after, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the exclusion zone surrounding the site of the catastrophe became an inspiration for several works of fiction, videogames and even live-action role-playing (LARP) game events.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovThe events of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise are set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where a second (fictional) explosion that occurred in 2006 apparently ripped the fabric of reality itself, creating dangerous anomalies and spawning deadly mutants.
The events of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise are set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, where a second (fictional) explosion that occurred in 2006 apparently ripped the fabric of reality itself, creating dangerous anomalies and spawning deadly mutants.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovValentin, 26, (R) an actor taking part in a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP event, wears a mutant costume for a game in Moscow, Russia. April 8, 2016.
Valentin, 26, (R) an actor taking part in a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP event, wears a mutant costume for a game in Moscow, Russia. April 8, 2016.
© REUTERS / Maxim Shemetov Participants of a LARP event wearing snork mutant (L) and gangster costumes attend a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.
Participants of a LARP event wearing snork mutant (L) and gangster costumes attend a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovThe people who, often illegally, brave the Zone looking for mysterious artifacts which spawn in anomalies and are imbued with otherwordly powers, are called stalkers.
The people who, often illegally, brave the Zone looking for mysterious artifacts which spawn in anomalies and are imbued with otherwordly powers, are called stalkers.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovElena (R) applies make-up to her daughter Liza who is dressed as a snork mutant, at the S.T.A.L.K.E.R convention in Moscow.
Elena (R) applies make-up to her daughter Liza who is dressed as a snork mutant, at the S.T.A.L.K.E.R convention in Moscow.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovWhile some people participating in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP events take on the role of stalkers, others play the part of their deadly and often heavily mutated adversaries.
While some people participating in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP events take on the role of stalkers, others play the part of their deadly and often heavily mutated adversaries.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovIn order to survive in the Zone, stalkers arm themselves with a wide array of weaponry and don various types of protective suits.
In order to survive in the Zone, stalkers arm themselves with a wide array of weaponry and don various types of protective suits.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovValentin, 26, an actor taking part in a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP event, poses for a photo wearing a mutant costume in Moscow, Russia. April 8, 2016.
Valentin, 26, an actor taking part in a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. LARP event, poses for a photo wearing a mutant costume in Moscow, Russia. April 8, 2016.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovA LARP event participant demonstrates a hand-made prop of a radioation detector during a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.
A LARP event participant demonstrates a hand-made prop of a radioation detector during a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.
© REUTERS / Maxim ShemetovElena, her daughter Liza and boyfriend Maxim (R-L) pose for a picture wearing snork mutant costumes at the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.
Elena, her daughter Liza and boyfriend Maxim (R-L) pose for a picture wearing snork mutant costumes at the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Convention in Moscow, Russia. April 2, 2016.