The digging only pushed radioactive material deeper into the soil and closer to the water table, so that contamination spread even further., Today, only two buildings are left standing, one of which is the former kindergarten, where children were not evacuated until 36 hours of exposure. The shows creators havent managed to keep track of all the little things (even though their attention to detail is why many people fell in love with the miniseries in the first place): Valery Legasov, the character played by Jared Harris, drinks his vodka from a large glass in small sips, as if it were whiskey, and everyone in the cast keeps addressing each other as comrade in complete seriousness. Dr. Gale treated patients who had suffered such a high exposure to radiation that even a bone marrow transplant could not save them. Children are shown playing in the radioactive dust, which falls from the sky like snow. Russians and Ukrainians have watched it via the internet, and it has had a favourable rating on Russian film site Kinopoisk. This later became known as the "Bridge of Death" after reports that those who stood there allegedly died from radiation sickness. Not really regarding to Akimov specifically, but in my book Im reading the wife of the firefighter who stayed by his side all the way described lots of horrific side affects from the radiation, and he wasnt even in the same situation as Akimov. It's not just a local interest, for a small group of people, but it is still worldwide. The reactor power level had been reduced, preparing for a planned safety test. In a weird way, it was more moving to me than moving through the actual power plant itself. Aleksandr Fyodorovich Akimov (6 May 1953-11 May 1986) was a Soviet Engineer who was the supervisor of the shift that worked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on the night of the Chernobyl Disaster. Our first priority is--PEREVOZCHENKO, 30's, bursts in. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? Withdrawing a dangerous number of control rods, the operators could only reach 200 MW due to xenon poisoning. For example, everything the show depicts about Lyudmilla and Vasily Ignatenko the bribes, the questions about children, the game of cards, the ban on touching all really happened. [3] Due to a design flaw, the descending control rods momentarily accelerated the nuclear reaction and caused the reactor to explode. Yet, with us, death is a biological event. ax1N58[zR)8WN}+|[x? On May 21, the American premium cable network HBO aired the third episode of Chernobyl, a new miniseries about the catastrophic nuclear accident in April 1986 that rocked the Soviet Union. See a comparison with a very old photo of Stolyarchuk: https://bit.ly/3wBuX2S Pay attention to the "indentation" of the line of his moustache on the right side of the face. ProtectedbyreCAPTCHAandtheGoogle Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Hes not a man anymore, but a reactor. Months after the Chernobyl disaster, the radioactivity had spread to Galsjo Forest in Sweden. "When he was present at the block, it created tension for everyone. He stayed behind and had his crew turn on the emergency water pumps to flood the reactor - sadly, the power source was inactive. His wife Lyuba is at his side.'. Likewise Toptunov was Lyonya. They were nothing like that. The explosion occurred. Mr Breus worked with many of the individuals portrayed and has given his verdict of the series. It's not just a local interest, for a small group of people, but it is still worldwide. https://i.imgur.com/gfghbDQ.jpg. Firefighters were also asked to help clear radioactive debris from the roof after the fire was extinguished. 0000001006 00000 n Finally, 11 days after the disaster, officials warned the residents of Kiev that they should avoid eating leafy vegetables and to stay indoors. I also heard that his otopsy file is closed to the public and is only accessible with specific permission. The calamity is considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history, and the area itself is still suffering in its aftermath. There was no smoke or fire, just fumes coming from the damaged part. The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophic nuclear disaster that occurred in the early hours of 26 April 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine.The accident occurred when Reactor Number 4 exploded and destroyed most of the reactor building, spreading debris and radioactive material across the surrounding area, and over the following days and weeks, most of mainland Europe . It kills you slowly, and it kills you in an excruciating manner. What interviewer? Answer (1 of 4): There would have been a hydrogen explosion instead of a steam explosion. Experts were unable to make an exact reading, as 200 meters (656 ft) above the reactor, radiation levels had reached 1,500 rems, but the counters were not capable of reading any higher than 500 rems. Poor guy. [1], Leonid Toptunov was born on 16 August 1960 in Mykolaivka, Buryn Raion, Sumy Oblast. Can either be found at house parties telling everyone Charles Manson was only 52 or at home reading true crime magazines. [4] His parents once asked about the cause but he only could say they had followed regulations. I don't understand why it happened. Akimov eventually succumbed to acute radiation syndrome two weeks after the disaster at the age of 33. UC San Francisco's Lydia Zablotska, MD, PhD, grew up in Ukraine, trained as physician . But no matter how strict he was, he was still a high-level professional.". He's growing weaker, wheezes, can hardly talk anymore. 0000005085 00000 n Just found this on Sky. startxref There was no smoke or fire, just fumes coming from the damaged part. DYATLOV We know. [4] He worked with Akimov to manually open water valves in an attempt to increase water supply to the reactor, during which time they began to experience symptoms of acute radiation syndrome. FromBudapesttoBishkek. Although he could walk, his parents could see he had strange skin damage. Shift leader Borys Baranov died in 2005, while Valery Bespalov and Oleksiy Ananenko, both chief engineers of one of the reactor sections, are still alive and live in the capital, Kiev. Warning: This story contains plot details from the miniseries. Mr Breus says the series creators showed the radiation effects on the human body well. That night was important because the system tests were taking place. Firefighters were also asked to help clear radioactive debris from the roof after the fire was extinguished. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Some dogs have been fitted with radiation sensors and GPS receivers, which help to map the radiation levels across the exclusion zone.[8]. The Red Forest is now one of the most contaminated sites in the world, with more than 90 percent of the radioactivity found in the soil. Arriving at work that morning, Mr Breus says he did not see any fire. At first, they also tried to reason with me, saying, Youre young. The buses which escorted the residents out of Pripyat spread the radiation to wider areas. Miners were brought in to dig a tunnel under the reactor to create a space for a heat exchanger, to stop the molten core melting through the concrete pad and contaminating the groundwater, threatening millions of lives. I know he has been brought up alot in discussions especially about his face. 0000008353 00000 n According to Sources: Akimov suffered severe Leg Burns and the high amount of radiation caused it face to slowly dissolve away. The Accident at Chernobyl: What Caused the Explosion? [4] During the accident, he was exposed to a fatal radiation dose of 1300rem. They were nothing like that. They didnt have a clue. TV Shows. I felt it probably the most when we were in the city of Chernobyl [] theres a small building thats basically the cultural center, where they put on shows and songs about the Soviet Union and Lenin, and that is the room where they eventually held a trial that we will talk about in episode five. Alexander Akimov (Sam Troughton) was the night crew shift supervisor during the early . Alexander Akimov is the one who had control over reactor number 4 at the night of the explosion, but whether he is the one to be held responsible remains an open question. ", Russia to make its own show about Chernobyl, Giant structure moves in to cover Chernobyl, TV drama Chernobyl: 'So chilling, it spares you nothing', Chernobyl: The end of a three-decade experiment, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Who would applaud that?". His family was informed that his death was the only reason he was not prosecuted for the accident. He was portrayed by actor Volodya Stepanenko in the 2004 Zero Hour TV series. Chernobyl guide Yuri Tatarchuk explained, Kopachi was very badly contaminated and so it was decided to bury it, house by house. [4], In 2008, Akimov was posthumously awarded with the 3rd degree Order For Courage by Viktor Yushchenko, then the President of Ukraine.[5]. A member of staff at the plant . it's not bad, it was probably made in the past few months before February 24th. It took 3.5 hours to evacuate. It seemed a good idea at the time, but it wasnt. [5], In 2008, Toptunov was posthumously awarded with the 3rd degree Order For Courage by Viktor Yushchenko, then the President of Ukraine.[6]. The traffic was insane. The The judges of the show trial claim one year later: The engineers are at fault who started operation of the reactor in 1983, despite not all safety tests having been passed. "A big cup, vodka, KGB everywhere.". Later this perception changed.". Cheish Merryweather is a true crime fan and an oddities fanatic. 03:30 - Telyatnikov contacted Akimov, asking what was happening to his firemen; Akimov sent him a dosimetrist. In 1976, Akimov graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute, with the degree of specialist in engineering and automation of heat and power processes. Open Wide, O Earth is remarkable for many other details it captures about Soviet life, as well. ", Most of the firefighters were pouring water on the damaged reactor, he says. They later died in hospital in Moscow.". When I finished my shift, my skin was brown, as if I had a proper suntan all over my body. My body parts not covered by clothes - such as hands, face and neck - were red". 0000003954 00000 n Biography [ edit] Tatarchuk said of the aftermath, It was criminal. Just days after the initial disaster, the wind changed direction and began blowing high levels of radiation in the direction of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. I always wonder why toptinov called him sasha? He died of radiation sickness two weeks after the accident at the age of 33. The School in Sperizh'e pictured in 2016. Pretty sure its true, the story of his face being gone came from just before he died while they were questioning him. Cheish Merryweather is a true crime fan and an oddities fanatic. )EBiz0xCBM7.q \T:vWM3@M1my0R(;-owTH|B0 8o%;'A~,6rCBU+3gZ/7kzXjUD%o|M\? Later this perception changed.". When Alexander has taken his duties, the reactor was in the state of preparation for the shutdown of the power. "I was surprised they even brought us there," Mr Breus says of arriving at work the morning after the explosion. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. Is there any truth or is it all here say? Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. . But no matter how strict he was, he was still a high-level professional.". One after the other, like giant beetles, kilometre after kilometre. He got a mild type of acute radiation syndrome, a doctor said. The reason was the reactors unstable condition due to low electrical network power. Who would applaud that?". 2023 BBC. [4], While the initial Soviet investigation put almost all the blame on the operators and management, later findings by the IAEA found that the reactor design and how the operators were informed of safety information was more significant. In 1986, Dr. Gale and the director of the Soviet Unions Central Institute for Advanced Medical Studies signed an agreement to monitor the 100,000 people who were residents in the danger zonea 30-kilometer (18.7 mi) radius surrounding the site which ultimately became the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Underreported stories. "It was just our work. If you can find a source, Id be interested to know. Tatiana Ignatenko was a collective farm fieldworker, and Ivan Ignatenko a tractor, and later truck . <]>> 4 to evaluate radiation levels. ", Russia to make its own show about Chernobyl, Giant structure moves in to cover Chernobyl, TV drama Chernobyl: 'So chilling, it spares you nothing', Chernobyl: The end of a three-decade experiment, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. "However, the technological aspects have some discrepancies which may not exactly [be] lies, but merely fiction," he adds. . He was the one who refused to continue with the test. 21 23 Their skin had a bright red colour. The dogs are tagged and their radiation exposure studied. Don't have high hopes going into this one guys. He's growing weaker, wheezes, can hardly talk anymore. Abagian recalled, Children were running in the streets; people were hanging laundered linen out to dry. He points to a few inaccuracies in the TV portrayal. They were very pale. Leg burns are a given, as pretty much everyone who worked on coolant supply in the morning had them. Toptunov only had two months' experience in operating the reactor and this was his first shutdown as operator. The missing containment wasn't mentioned either', 'It is the morning of the 10th May. "When he was present at the block, it created tension for everyone. The original footage was probably taken at reactor 4 control room during the time our guys were on crew, that's why many of them can be seen. HWKF=1Zz& TfOku]T#t4d-Ti,J$bTM7d)clC2 VFO&3 zE_6tVQjA[ri&xHG|/4^})-}IrT8bv_d O7fj8jGX a?2`/gn)/nXo]}JR'.H}k%L,CXBk>:+l(]9[F|/#O5X# Y0Gl8f,1 qCy*$ Ao6!^TqRVPyQG. 4 reactor, and operator Leonid Toptunov, who both feature prominently in the series. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. This is how they decided to portray the Minister of Coal Industry Mikhail Shchadov. Leonid Fedorovych Toptunov ( Ukrainian: , Russian: ; 16 August 1960 - 14 May 1986) was a Soviet engineer who was the senior reactor control chief engineer at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Unit 4 on the night of the Chernobyl disaster .