Stalker 2 studio GSC Game World has joined with Ukrainian charity United24 on a new fundraising initiative that aims to raise $100,000 to help fund efforts to remove mines and other explosive devices from the real-world Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.
The Zone—the real one—was established in 1986 following the disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It's not quite as fanciful as the videogame counterpart but it is hazardous, and public access is restricted; as one of the most radioactively contaminated regions on the planet, it's also of considerable scientific interest.
Facilities in the zone also require ongoing maintenance, which became a problem when Russian troops seized the Zone and power plant during the early days of the invasion of Ukraine. The troops withdrew a couple months later—some reportedly received "significant doses" of radiation during their time there—leaving behind mines and explosives that pose a significant hazard to returning workers and researchers: United24 says at least eight explosions have wounded or killed staff a...
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