Ilirney is situated 168 km from the district center Bilibino and 510 km from Anadyr. At the site of the village, the Maly Anyuy River is joined by the Nutsekyn tributary, from the Chukchi word, Nutech'yn, meaning white fat, since there is a band of white clay that looks like fat and was occasionally consumed by the local inhabitants in times of famine. Lake Ilirney is found at the feet of Ilirney Range, about northeast of the village. Archeologists discovered neolithic camps on the shore of the lake and about further upstream is Lake Tytyl where archeologists have also discovered neolithic encampments and where the inhabitants of the village have a permanent fishing co-operative on the shores.