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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 and soldiers since the Russian withdrawal.

"Demining the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is first and foremost about the safety of the people who work there every day—scientists and energy workers," said Ihor Bezkaravainyi of Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and Environment. "Particular attention is being paid to creating safe routes for firefighting and rescue teams, allowing them to respond to fires in the Zone more quickly, without putting their lives at risk from mines."

Clearing mines is its own reward—the United Nations reported in 2025 that civilian injuries and deaths caused by landmines had reached their highest level in four years, in part due to funding shortfalls for demining efforts—but anyone who kicks in a minimum of $10 to GSC's fundraising campaign will have a shot at some swag, including patches, t-shirts, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Ultimate Edition keys, and a pretty groovy collectible statuette.

The real pièce de résistance, though, are the five "Artifact keychains" carved out of the wreckage of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter that was shot down over the Zone. Sweet.

"Chornobyl is the beating heart of our gaming universe," GSC Game World said. "For us, it’s far more than just a setting or a narrative backdrop—it’s a vital piece of the Ukrainian cultural code and an inseparable part of our identity. Today, amid the ongoing war, we want our work to carry real-world power and help our country overcome the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion.

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"That is why this new joint project to demine the Exclusion Zone is a deeply symbolic and meaningful mission for our entire studio. Having had a fantastic experience collaborating with United24 in the past, we are immensely proud to continue this partnership. Our goal is simple: ensure that danger exists only within the game, while real Ukrainian soil becomes safe once again as quickly as possible."

GSC Game World's first collaboration with United24 raised more than $120,000 for the Bring Light Back campaign to provide generators for schools in Ukraine, which suffers from frequent power failures and blackouts as a result of the ongoing war. Donations to GSC's demining campaign can be made at u24.gov.ua.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.