[] It was a kind of torture I would have never even contemplated. People that are usually blamed for the explosion are the plant employees who worked at the night of the explosion: Aleksandr Akimov, the supervisor of the shift; Leonid Toptunov, the senior reactor control chief engineer; and Anatoly Dyatlov, deputy chief engineer of the power plant. Their skin had a bright red colour. DYATLOV We know. The calamity is considered the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history, and the area itself is still suffering in its aftermath. Vasily Ignatenko was just 25 when he succumbed to slow death via radiation poisoning after fighting the fires of Chernobyl. It is the same in the case of the Chernobyl disaster. How would I find another job after that?". Its a little like if you were in a skyscraper, and you said to yourself, This is solid! [] You just feel safe within it. Select it and press Ctrl+Enter, Yegor Moskvitin reviews a poignant new depiction of the Soviet disaster, I was there, and I dont want to watch this anymore, A journalist in Baltimore shows HBO's Chernobyl to his stepfather and discovers that he was part of the USSR's military cleanup, The widow of a Chernobyl engineer remembers her husband and describes returning to work at the power plant after the 1986 nuclear accident. "', 'In Moscow, doctors are trying to save Alexander Akimov's life. [4] During the accident, he was exposed to a fatal radiation dose of 1300rem. The Accident at Chernobyl: What Caused the Explosion? Undeservedly condemned, professionally slandered. AKIMOV . There are many theories about the reasons for the nuclear plant explosion, but they all have the same common denominator: the human element. His family was informed that his death was the only reason he was not prosecuted for the accident. Residents started to panic when there was a metallic smell in the air, and the atmosphere appeared different. Temperatures beneath the reactor were high and the series shows them stripping naked. He would try and stand up and walk around, but this resulted in the "skin on his legs falling off like socks". Founder of Crime Viral community since 2015. Hours after the explosion, helicopters were flown over Reactor No. "The miners are shown as tough guys who are not afraid of anything, but not the power plant workers.". His parents visited him in the hospital. "There are many stereotypes shown, typical of Western portrayal of the Soviet Union," argues Oleksiy Breus. A subreddit to discuss the Chernobyl Disaster that happened on the night of April 26, 1986, and the Exclusion Zone that isolates the city of Pripyat from the rest of the world. And the atmosphere was radioactive.[3]. As the rods were being inserted, the graphite tips of the control rods accelerated the reaction, creating neutron flux in the bottom of the core. It kills you slowly, and it kills you in an excruciating manner. Contrary to reports that the three divers died of radiation sickness as a result of their action, all three survived. Mr Breus says the series creators showed the radiation effects on the human body well. Many can be found playing inside the abandoned cooling tower at the former power plant. And also being under that same piece of sky, you start to feel a little closer, in a sense, to who they were. One of the most dramatic scenes in the miniseries shows three power plant workers volunteering to go into an underground tunnel beneath the damaged reactor to open a vital drainage valve. The communications networks were suddenly flooded with calls and information. Abagian recalled, Children were running in the streets; people were hanging laundered linen out to dry. There are many charities that support facilities which help babies who were born with severe birth defects, including neurological difficulties and heart conditions. At 9:25 time mark, do you think it might be Khodemchuk? [3] However, the reactor stalled unexpectedly during test preparations, dropping to a low 30 MW. "A big cup, vodka, KGB everywhere.". There were fears that "lava" from the molten reactor could reach the water, triggering a further, potentially far more powerful explosion. One resident recalled, Queues of jammed buses left the city. "In hospital, I was treated with a guy who biked to that bridge in the morning on 26 April to watch it. [] And you can start to feel how people would say, Okay, for sure, its not like the reactor blew up. This documentary. Akimov eventually succumbed to acute radiation syndrome two weeks after the disaster at the age of 33. He was exposed to a lethal dose of radiation and died two weeks after the explosion. They knew where the valves were, so they were the right men for the task. The roles of three key personalities lie at the heart of the story: Plant director Viktor) Bryukhanov, chief engineer Nikolai Fomin and deputy chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov. Alexander Akimov was the head of the night shift that worked at reactor number 4 on the night of the accident. All three men were sentenced to 10 years in a labour camp for their role in the disaster and series creator Craig Mazin maintains that Dyatlov in particular was a "real bully", who later made statements that were not credible. [] And the last thing that I want this show to do is to scare people about nuclear power. He points to a few inaccuracies in the TV portrayal. "For example, that useless secrecy, which became one of the reasons behind the Chernobyl disaster. He stayed behind and had his crew turn on the emergency water pumps to flood the reactor - sadly, the power source was inactive. The scene where Dr. Khomyuk is jailed by the KGB was filmed in Vilnius at a real former KGB prison. Oleksiy Breus says the accident helped reveal the substantial flaws of the Soviet system. In that moment, standing where Dyatlov, and [Nikolai] Fomin, and [Viktor] Bryukhanov stood it was very chilling. 0000018917 00000 n ax1N58[zR)8WN}+|[x? The locals thought they would later be returning to their homes, but this was never the case. He began his career at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in September 1979. Tel: +38 063 58 16 661E-mail: [emailprotected], Exciting private tours to Chernobyl and Pripyat. Always nice to see new programs about this :). The Chernobyl nuclear accident is one of the most shocking and devastating catastrophes of modern times. In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes. Photographer Igor Kostin recalled, The clever ones also added a vine leaf for extra comfort.[5]. Vasily Ivanovich Ignatenko was born on 13 March 1961, in the Brahin District of the Gomel Region of the Byelorussian SSR. "It was clear they felt sick. Dyatlov could be Tolya, Scherbina could be Borya, Legasov could be Valera, etc. Cheish Merryweather is a true crime fan and an oddities fanatic. ", I'd say it is indeed Akimov, and the man standing next to him might be Kovalenko, reactor#4 supervisor. 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. [5] However, the operators were found to have deviated from operational procedures, changing test protocols on the fly, as well as having made "ill judged" actions, making human factors a major contributing factor. I don't understand why it happened. Akimov eventually succumbed to acute radiation syndrome two weeks after the disaster at the age of 33. On 10 July 1984 Aleksandr Akimov was appointed to the position of shift supervisor of Reactor Unit 4. Its as if the showrunners saw it all happen with their own eyes. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 0000013685 00000 n Akimov had 100% of his skin burnt by radiation. At 1:23 AM, the reactors power levels surged, and the events that followed led to an explosion which released more than 50 tons of radioactive material into the atmosphere.[1]. 0000012642 00000 n 10 Most Haunted Buildings In New York City And Their, 10 Iconic Mascots And Their Surprising Backstories, Top 9 Newly Found Photos Of Ted Bundy And Their, Top 10 Murder Houses In Los Angeles And Their, 10 Superhero Actors Who Have Their Own Tragic Backstories, Top 10 Haunting Images Of Historic Tragedies [DISTURBING], 10 Cereals With Strange And Interesting Backstories, 10 Most Haunting Cases Investigated By Ed And, 10 Controversial Toys You Might Already Have in Your Home, Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes, 10 Female Film Pioneers Who Shaped the Movies, Ten True Tales from Americas Toughest Prison, 10 Times Members of Secretive Societies and Organizations Spilled the Beans, 10 Common Idioms with Unexpectedly Dark Origins, 10 North American Animals with Misplaced Reputations, 10 Modern Radiation Accidents Involving Civilians, 10 Famous Incidences of Death by Radiation, Top 10 Creepiest Forests Around the World, 10 Chilling Myths and Ghosts Youve Probably Never Heard Of, 10 Terrifying First-Hand Accounts Of Sleep Paralysis, Top 10 Creepiest Things From Around The Internet, 10 Creepy And Mysterious Phantom Vehicles. Dr. Gale treated patients who had suffered such a high exposure to radiation that even a bone marrow transplant could not save them. "As we moved through it, we were aware that there were the ghosts of history around us," Mazin said. Once she sees how Akimov is tearing entire strains of his moustache out "Don't worry", he says, "it doesn't hurt. When I finished my shift, my skin was brown, as if I had a proper suntan all over my body. I've never seen any reliable source for anything regarding his face. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. %PDF-1.6 % His burnt lungs hardly let him breathe, his intestines have decomposed, excrements mixed with blood are oozing from his body. The level of radiation in the Chernobyl zone is still the same today as it was in 1986.[9]. "However, the technological aspects have some discrepancies which may not exactly [be] lies, but merely fiction," he adds. Toptunov had literally turned white.". Is there any truth or is it all here say? Some Chernobyl leaders built their defense on their bones. "I've never heard there was a crowd of people who went to watch the fire at night," he says. The village of Kopachi lies 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) from the site of the Chernobyl disaster. Tatiana Ignatenko was a collective farm fieldworker, and Ivan Ignatenko a tractor, and later truck . Whilst he was in hospital. But Mr Breus believes most Pripyat residents would have slept through the explosion, and he only learned of the accident when he arrived at work the following morning. 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'. "A thin stream the firemen poured probably evaporated before it even reached reactor.". Instead, the job was handed over to humans, who could not be exposed for any longer than 40 seconds. A subreddit to discuss the Chernobyl Disaster that happened on the night of April 26, 1986, and the Exclusion Zone that isolates the city of Pripyat from the rest of the world. 4. Continue Reading 6 2 More answers below Michael Karnerfors Although he could walk, his parents could see he had strange skin damage. Aleksandr Akimov was born on 6 May 1953 in . However, the deputy chief engineer of the power plant Anatoly Dyatlov ordered to proceed with the tests. There was one in particular where the floor sloped down, so it was lower than the entrance to the door, and the idea was that youd go into that room, and they would fill it with water, up to your knees or so, so you couldnt sleep. Everyone who worked to restore coolant flow would have suffered greatly from leg burns, because they were standing in the water. 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. The turbine was shut down. Mazin also says he visited Chernobyl as a tourist, to prepare for the miniseries. [4] He died from the acute radiation poisoning on 14 May 1986 and was laid to rest at the Mitinskoe Cemetery in Moscow. [2] He worked as a unit control engineer and senior reactor control engineer. By Rod Adams April 1, 1996. 0000001084 00000 n Read about our approach to external linking. He had health problems afterwards.". He was entirely black, due to skin necrosis, but I never read anywhere that he had no face left, Jesus Christ he mummified, that sounds horrific. Frantic. Jesus, that is terrible for Nekheav, at least they all did what they could to remove all the water from them valves to avoid a steam explosion and tbh I think it is for the best we dont find out about poor Akimovs faces, He got a very large dose all over and I read somewhere he didnt want to die so he tried to act normal but when he would stand the skin around his legs would fal down like loose socks, I just invisioned that in my mind that sounds awful. Contrary to reports that the three divers died of radiation sickness as a result of their action, all three survived. https://i.imgur.com/gfghbDQ.jpg. 6 in Moscow, where Alexander Akomv is suffering towards death. Unfortunately, the first five years after the accident, the details were kept secret, but now the scientists and activists have the access to archives. Ultimately, though, he is happy the show has refocused attention on the disaster and the scale of damage caused. Arriving at work that morning, Mr Breus says he did not see any fire. Is there any truth or is it all here say? I know he has been brought up alot in discussions especially about his face. Is there any other reports regarding Akimov? ", he asks the one in the neighbouring bed, "We only pressed the shutdown button!" Thats your job, randomly spouting INSAG reports. Yes, i thought the same about Razim Davletbayev. There was no smoke or fire, just fumes coming from the damaged part. Mr Breus worked with many of the individuals portrayed and has given his verdict of the series. The scene where Dr. Khomyuk is jailed by the KGB was filmed in Vilnius at a real former KGB prison. The control rods had graphite moderators to speed up reaction and the other part of the rods were made of boron to decrease reaction. Before coming to Soviet Ukraine, he installed reactors into submarines at a shipbuilding plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he was once exposed to a nearly fatal dose of radiation. Aleksandr Fyodorovich Akimov (Russian: ; 6 May 1953 11 May 1986) was a Soviet engineer who was the supervisor of the shift that worked at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Unit 4 on the night of the Chernobyl disaster, 26 April 1986. In ablaze, he does indeed talk to Akimov and how much he wanted to live.. but Read wasn't talking about Akimov when he said about skin falling off his legs. He was the one who refused to continue with the test. Chernobyl engineer Oleksiy Breus, then and now, beside the backdrop of the TV portrayal of the disaster, By Viacheslav Shramovych and Hanna Chornous, Mr Breus revisited the reactor's control room 20 years after the disaster struck, Viktor Bryukhanov (left) sits alongside deputy chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov (orange shirt) and chief engineer Nikolai Fomin during a trial over the accident, British actor Adam Nagaitis played Vasily Ignatenko, one of the first firefighters on the scene of the disaster, The view of the damaged building from the roof of reactor No. The information is all on the level of 'he said, she said'. This is some other smaller problem.. "They took off their clothes, but not like it was shown in the film, not right down to nothing," Mr Breus insists, also pointing out that their role was ultimately not significant to the story. "I've never heard there was a crowd of people who went to watch the fire at night," he says. I always wonder why toptinov called him sasha? "If I didn't do it, they could just fire me. But Mr Breus believes most Pripyat residents would have slept through the explosion, and he only learned of the accident when he arrived at work the following morning. "Their characters are distorted and misrepresented, as if they were villains. Many of the liquidators have since suffered from severe health problemssome of which were fatal. But while many have complimented the show's attention to detail, he believes it is also one of the downsides of the TV series. "It was just our work. To capture the gruesome deaths that befell plant engineers and first responders, makeup and prosthetics designer Daniel Parker studied the stages of radiation sickness, identifying seven kinds of wounds that depend on a victims proximity to the radiation source. "They took off their clothes, but not like it was shown in the film, not right down to nothing," Mr Breus insists, also pointing out that their role was ultimately not significant to the story. On April 26, 1986, an explosion occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the northern part of Soviet Ukraine, an event which today is widely known as the Chernobyl disaster. In 1983, he graduated from the Obninsk Institute for Nuclear Power Engineering, with a specialist degree in nuclear power plant engineering. His wife Lyuba is at his side.'. Ill say its him until proven otherwise! .] The story of the reactor's catastrophic explosion, as told in an HBO/Sky miniseries, has received the highest ever score for a TV show on the film website IMDB.