In April 1986, Kalmer, an Estonian woodworker with a past shaped by Soviet military service, is unexpectedly conscripted to serve in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. Torn from his peaceful village life and thrust into the heart of the exclusion zone, he finds himself stationed at a camp a mere six kilometers from the reactor. His duties are grim: processing documents and dispatching workers to their hazardous assignments, witnessing firsthand the human cost of the catastrophe and the callous indifference of the Soviet authorities. The camp becomes a microcosm of the disaster itself, a place of fear, fatigue, and moral compromise, where Kalmer struggles to maintain his sanity amidst the constant threat of radiation and the psychological toll of his work. He observes the power struggles among the Soviet officers, the desperate plight of the Ukrainian villagers, and the futile attempts to contain the invisible enemy.
Amidst the devastation, Kalmer finds an unexpected connection with Katya, a resilient Ukrainian woman who offers him a glimmer of hope and humanity. Their forbidden romance blossoms against the backdrop of the disaster, a testament to the enduring power of love in the face of unimaginable adversity. However, their future remains uncertain, overshadowed by the ever-present threat of radiation and the oppressive Soviet system. After enduring months of hardship and witnessing countless atrocities, Kalmer is finally sent home to Estonia, forever scarred by his experiences. He carries with him the memories of Chernobyl, the faces of those he lost, and the bittersweet hope that he might one day reunite with Katya. Back in Estonia, he grapples with the physical and psychological aftermath of his service, seeking solace in strong drink and struggling to find meaning in a world forever changed by the disaster. The story explores his attempts to reconnect with Katya, his battle with the lingering effects of radiation, and his quest for redemption in the face of unimaginable trauma.
