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1
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I hear they might
promote Bryukhanov.
2
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This little problem we have
with the safety test...
3
00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:38,000
if it's completed successfully,
4
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000
yes, I think promotion's
very likely.
5
00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,000
Who knows, maybe Moscow.
6
00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,000
Naturally, they'll put me
in charge once he's gone,
7
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,000
and then I'll need someone
to take my old job.
8
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,000
I could pick Sitnikov.
9
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,000
I would like to be considered.
10
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,000
I'll keep that in mind.
11
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,000
Viktor Petrovich,
12
00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,000
preparations for the test
have gone smoothly.
13
00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,000
Comrade Dyatlov's been
working per my instructions,
14
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,000
and Reactor 4 output's been
reduced to 1600 megawatts.
15
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,000
With your approval, we're ready
to continue lowering power to--
16
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,000
We have to wait.
17
00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,000
Is, uh...?
18
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,000
Are you going to ask me if
there's a problem, Nikolai?
19
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,000
You can't read a fucking face?
20
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000
Three years,
I've tried to finish this test.
21
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,000
Three years.
22
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,000
I've just had a call from
the grid controller in Kiev.
23
00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,000
He says we can't lower power any
further, not for another ten hours.
24
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:53,000
The grid controller?
Where does he get off--
25
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,000
It's not the grid controller's
decision, Dyatlov.
26
00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,000
It's the end of the month.
27
00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,000
All the productivity quotas.
28
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,000
Everyone's working overtime,
the factories need power.
29
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,000
Someone's pushing down from above.
30
00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,000
Although, we'll never know who.
31
00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,000
So, do we have to scrap it or what?
32
00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,000
No, I don't think so.
33
00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,000
If we need to wait ten hours,
34
00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,000
-we wait
-Running at half power,
35
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,000
we're not going to have
stability issues?
36
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,000
-No, I-I should think--
-I'm not asking you.
37
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,000
It's safe.
38
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,000
We'll maintain at 1600.
39
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,000
I'll go home, get some sleep,
come back tonight.
40
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,000
We'll proceed then.
41
00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,000
I'll personally supervise the test.
42
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,000
And it will be completed.
43
00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,000
Well, I'm not waiting around then.
44
00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,000
Call me when it's done.
45
00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,000
How do you feel?
46
00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,000
You went to the doctor yesterday.
How is your health?
47
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,000
You don't know?
48
00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,000
From Vienna.
49
00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:38,000
Do you read German?
50
00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:45,000
It says, "At last a Soviet
scientist who tells the truth."
51
00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,000
Obviously, I resent the insinuation,
but I think it's fair to say,
52
00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000
you made an
excellent impression at the conference.
53
00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,000
Turns out,
you're quite good at this.
54
00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,000
At what? Lying?
55
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:58,000
Statecraft, Legasov.
Statecraft.
56
00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,000
The West is now satisfied
57
00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,000
that Chernobyl was solely
the result of operator error,
58
00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:05,000
which it essentially was.
59
00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,000
We have you to thank for that,
60
00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,000
and we intend to.
61
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,000
"Hero of the Soviet Union."
62
00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,000
Our highest honor.
63
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,000
They haven't even given it to me.
64
00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,000
"Promotion to Director
of the Kurchatov Institute."
65
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,000
I'm humbled.
66
00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,000
I don't think there's anything humble
about you, Valery Alexeyevich.
67
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,000
These rewards are not yours yet.
68
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,000
First, your testimony at the trial.
69
00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,000
Comrade Charkov, I understand
my duty to the State.
70
00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,000
But you gave us assurances.
71
00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,000
The reactors would be made safe.
72
00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,000
It's been months,
no changes have been made.
73
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000
-No changes even discussed.
-First, the trial.
74
00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,000
Once it's over,
we will have our villains,
75
00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:00,000
we will have our hero,
we will have our truth.
76
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,000
After that, we can deal
with the reactors.
77
00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,000
Did you take a train?
78
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,000
Yes, I took a train.
79
00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,000
Now let's talk about Vienna.
80
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,000
I'm not here to scold you.
81
00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,000
I know how the world works
despite what Shcherbina says.
82
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,000
So... why are you here?
83
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,000
Because I'm brutally stubborn.
84
00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,000
Which you were hoping for.
85
00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:55,000
Charkov is saying they're going to
fix the reactors after the trial.
86
00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,000
Do you believe him?
87
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000
The State will never
willingly fix the reactors,
88
00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,000
because acknowledging the problem
means admitting that they lied.
89
00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,000
They will have to be forced.
90
00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,000
At the trial,
you're going to tell the truth.
91
00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,000
You're going to convince the jury.
92
00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000
It's a show trial. The jury's already
been handed their verdict.
93
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,000
I'm not talking about them.
94
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,000
The Central Committee have invited
95
00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,000
members of the scientific
community to observe the trial.
96
00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,000
Our colleagues, from Kurchatov,
97
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,000
from Sredmash, from Minenergo,
98
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,000
they will be sitting in the crowd
listening to every word you say.
99
00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000
A jury that only we know is there.
100
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,000
And when your testimony arrives
at the moment of the explosion?
101
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,000
That is when our jury will
finally hear the truth.
102
00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,000
-And do what with it?
-Insist on reform.
103
00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,000
Not just to the RBMK,
104
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,000
-but the entire industry.
-No, no, no, no, no.
105
00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,000
-They can't function without us.
-No, no, no.
106
00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000
Do you know what happened to Volkov
107
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,000
the man whose report you found?
108
00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,000
They just removed him from
his position at the Institute.
109
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,000
Sacked for the crime of knowing.
110
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,000
And you think that these scientists,
111
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,000
handpicked to witness a show trial,
112
00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,000
will somehow be stirred
into action by me?
113
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,000
Because of some heroic stance
I take in defiance of the State?
114
00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,000
-Yes.
-Why?
115
00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,000
Because you're Valery Legasov,
and you mean something.
116
00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000
I'd like to think that
if I spoke out, it would be enough.
117
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,000
But I know how the world works.
118
00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,000
They will shoot me, Khomyuk.
119
00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,000
You told me
to find out what happened.
120
00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,000
I spoke to dozens of people.
121
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,000
Every word they said, I wrote down.
122
00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,000
All in these books.
123
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,000
These are the ones
who are still alive.
124
00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,000
These are the ones who are dead.
125
00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,000
They died rescuing each other.
126
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,000
Putting out fires,
tending to the wounded.
127
00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,000
They didn't hesitate,
they didn't waiver.
128
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,000
They simply did what had to be done.
129
00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,000
So have I.
130
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,000
So have I.
131
00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,000
I went willingly to an open reactor.
132
00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,000
So I've already given my life.
133
00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,000
Isn't that enough?
134
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,000
No, I'm sorry, but it is not.
135
00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,000
The Central Committee of the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
136
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,000
and the Presidium of the
Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R.
137
00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,000
has determined that
justice be carried out
138
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000
on behalf of the People
139
00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,000
in accordance with
the general goal of our Party
140
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,000
as determined by its 20th,
21st, and 22nd Congresses,
141
00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,000
which is a Leninist goal.
142
00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,000
It was, is, and will be the only
immutable goal in the Soviet state.
143
00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,000
The path of Leninist principles
144
00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,000
shall be consistently
and undeviatingly followed
145
00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:07,000
as it expresses the vital
interests of the Soviet People,
146
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,000
its hopes and aspirations as we guide
the life of the Party and the State.
147
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,000
This session of court is now open,
148
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,000
Comrade Judge Milan
Kadnikov presiding.
149
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,000
Indictments:
150
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,000
Viktor Bryukhanov,
151
00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,000
Anatoly Dyatlov,
152
00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,000
Nikolai Fomin...
153
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,000
are accused of violating
Article 220 Section 2
154
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,000
of the Criminal Code
of the Soviet Union,
155
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,000
resulting in a nuclear disaster
on April 26, 1986.
156
00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,000
The State calls witnesses
Comrade Khomyuk
157
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,000
of the Byelorussian
Nuclear Institute,
158
00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:43,000
Comrade Legasov of the Kurchatov
Institute of Atomic Energy,
159
00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:47,000
and Comrade Boris
Evdokimovich Shcherbina,
160
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,000
Deputy Chairman of
the Council of Ministers
161
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,000
and head of the Bureau
for Fuel and Energy.
162
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:31,000
It began with, of all things,
a safety test.
163
00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,000
Why was there need
for a safety test at all?
164
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,000
Reactor Number 4 was not new
when the accident occurred.
165
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:44,000
In fact, it went into operation
on December 20th, 1983.
166
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:48,000
Eleven days later,
on the last day of the year,
167
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:52,000
Plant Director Viktor Bryukhanov
signed this document--
168
00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:58,000
certifying the completion of
the construction of the reactor.
169
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,000
As a result of finishing the
work before the end of the year,
170
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,000
Comrade Bryukhanov was awarded
Hero of Socialist Labor.
171
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:13,000
Comrade Fomin was awarded
for Valorous Labor.
172
00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:17,000
Comrade Dyatlov was given
an Order of the Red Banner.
173
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,000
But their work was not finished.
174
00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:27,000
And this document was a lie.
175
00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,000
In order to sign this certificate,
176
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:34,000
all safety tests had to have
been successfully completed,
177
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,000
and yet, one remained.
178
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:44,000
A nuclear reactor generates
heat in the core here.
179
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,000
A series of pumps, here and here,
180
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,000
send a constant flow of cooling
water through the core.
181
00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,000
The core's heat turns
the water to steam,
182
00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,000
and the steam spins
the turbine here,
183
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,000
and the result is electricity.
184
00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,000
But what if a power plant
has no power?
185
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,000
What if the power feeding
the plant itself is disrupted?
186
00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,000
A blackout, equipment failure,
187
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,000
or an attack by a foreign enemy?
188
00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,000
If there's no power,
189
00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,000
the pumps cannot move
water through the core.
190
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,000
And without water,
the core overheats,
191
00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,000
the fuel melts down.
192
00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:21,000
In short, a nuclear disaster.
193
00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,000
The solution?
194
00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,000
Three diesel fuel
backup generators here.
195
00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,000
So, problem solved? No.
196
00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,000
Bryukhanov knew that the problem
was not solved at all.
197
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,000
The backup generators took
approximately one minute
198
00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,000
to reach the speed required
199
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,000
to power the pumps
and prevent a meltdown,
200
00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,000
and by that time,
it would be too late.
201
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,000
So we arrive at the safety test.
202
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:53,000
The theory was this:
if the facility lost power,
203
00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,000
the turbine,
which had been spinning,
204
00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,000
would take some time
to slow down and stop.
205
00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,000
What if you could take
the electricity
206
00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,000
it was still generating
and transfer it to the pumps?
207
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:04,000
What if the dying turbine
208
00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,000
could keep the pumps
working long enough
209
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,000
to bridge the 60-second gap
until the generators came on?
210
00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,000
Any questions?
211
00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,000
No. Continue, please.
212
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,000
To test this theory,
213
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,000
the reactor is placed
in a reduced power mode--
214
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,000
700 megawatts--
215
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,000
to simulate a blackout condition.
216
00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,000
Then the turbines are turned off,
217
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,000
and as they slowly spin down,
218
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000
their electrical output is measured
219
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:42,000
to see if it's enough
to power the pumps.
220
00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,000
The science is strong,
221
00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,000
but a test is only as good
as the men carrying it out.
222
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,000
Now, the first time they tried,
they failed.
223
00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000
The second time they tried,
they failed.
224
00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:59,000
The third time they tried,
they failed.
225
00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,000
The fourth time they tried
226
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,000
was April 26th, 1986.
227
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,000
Comrade Khomyuk.
228
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,000
To understand
what happened that night,
229
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,000
we have to go back
ten hours earlier--
230
00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,000
April 25th, the day the test
was meant to take place.
231
00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,000
By two in the afternoon,
the reactor has been lowered by half
232
00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,000
from its normal output level
of 3200 megawatts
233
00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,000
to 1600 megawatts and is stable
234
00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,000
and ready to be reduced to its
final output level for the test:
235
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,000
700 megawatts.
236
00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,000
But before they can proceed,
there is a phone call.
237
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,000
Power grid officials in Kiev
say that they cannot afford
238
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:13,000
a further reduction in the
electricity until after midnight.
239
00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,000
They are asking
for a ten-hour delay.
240
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,000
This is the first critical moment,
241
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,000
the first link
in the chain of disaster.
242
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:26,000
Competent management would have
insisted on canceling the test.
243
00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,000
These three men
allowed it to proceed.
244
00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,000
Why was this delay so dangerous?
245
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000
It created two problems:
246
00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,000
One of them is
scientific in nature...
247
00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:41,000
and the other is very human.
248
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,000
This is the one
we will consider first.
249
00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:48,000
At midnight,
there is a shift change.
250
00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:02,000
Hey.
251
00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,000
-Khodemchuk--
-Forget it. Find another fool.
252
00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,000
Toptunov, want to buy a motorcycle?
253
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,000
Toptunov?
He's just a little boy.
254
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,000
He's got more hair on his face
than on his balls.
255
00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,000
Hair? Is that
what's on his lip?
256
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,000
Leonid Fedorovych.
257
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000
Akimov says to come to the
control room as soon as you can.
258
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,000
-Is he already here?
-He came in early.
259
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,000
Something about a test.
260
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,000
You see? Desperate.
261
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,000
Sasha?
262
00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,000
Ah. You know the test
they were supposed to run?
263
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,000
The turbine rundown,
they tried it last year.
264
00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,000
They couldn't do it on the day shift,
so they've given it to us.
265
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:51,000
-To us? We don't know what--
-Shh.
266
00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,000
-We don't know what it is.
-It's fine.
267
00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,000
We take it down to 700,
hold it there,
268
00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,000
the rest is Stolyarchuk
and Kirschenbaum, but...
269
00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,000
Dyatlov is gonna be supervising.
270
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,000
I have to do something
I've never done before
271
00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000
with Dyatlov looking
over my shoulder?
272
00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,000
Yeah, well, don't worry,
we'll do it together.
273
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,000
I'm looking at the instructions now.
274
00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,000
Are we supposed to do those or not?
275
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,000
Yes, this is Akimov in 4.
276
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,000
I have the manual
for the rundown test.
277
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,000
You did it last year.
278
00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,000
Yes, in the program there's
instructions of what to do,
279
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,000
and then, well, there's
a lot of things crossed out.
280
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:37,000
What should I--?
281
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,000
Well, what should I--?
282
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,000
Are you sure?
283
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,000
Right. Thank you.
284
00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,000
He says to follow
the crossed-out instructions.
285
00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,000
So then why are they crossed out?
286
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,000
We've been cleared to run the test.
287
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,000
1600. Good.
288
00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,000
Now, is it too much to ask that
you all know what you're doing?
289
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,000
-Well--
-Yes. Absolutely.
290
00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:11,000
-Stolyarchuk?
-Yes.
291
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,000
-Kirschenbaum?
-Uh, I haven't reviewed.
292
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,000
We only just found out really--
293
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,000
There, review it.
294
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:19,000
Or you can just do what I tell you.
295
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,000
I think even you, stupid as
you are, can manage that.
296
00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,000
Well, let's go.
297
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,000
I'm supposed to switch the turbine off
while the reactor's still running?
298
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,000
-This is not good--
-Shut the fuck up and do your job!
299
00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,000
Toptunov, reduce power to 700.
300
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,000
I've never done this
with the power so low before.
301
00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,000
It's okay. I'm with you.
302
00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,000
Reducing power to 700.
303
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,000
I want you to
think of Yuri Gagarin.
304
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,000
I want you to imagine that
he has been told nothing
305
00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,000
of his mission into space until the
moment that he is on the launch pad.
306
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,000
I want you to imagine
that all he has
307
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,000
is a list of instructions
that he has never seen before,
308
00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,000
some of which have been crossed out.
309
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,000
This is exactly what was happening
310
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:13,000
in the control room of Reactor 4.
311
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,000
The night shift had not been
trained to perform the experiment.
312
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,000
They hadn't even been
warned it was happening.
313
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,000
Leonid Toptunov,
314
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:25,000
the operator responsible
for controlling and stabilizing
315
00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,000
the reactor that night was...
all of 25 years old.
316
00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:34,000
And his total experience on the job?
317
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,000
Four months.
318
00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,000
This is the human problem
created by the delay.
319
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,000
But inside the reactor core,
320
00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:45,000
in the space between
the atoms themselves,
321
00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,000
something far more
dangerous is forming.
322
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,000
A poison.
323
00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,000
The time is 28 past midnight.
324
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,000
Comrade Legasov.
325
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,000
I'm pleased to see some
of my colleagues here
326
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:55,000
from the Kurchatov Institute
and Minenergo.
327
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,000
But you don't need
to be a nuclear scientist
328
00:25:57,000 --> 00:26:00,000
to understand what
happened at Chernobyl.
329
00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:02,000
You only need to know this:
330
00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,000
there are essentially
two things that happen
331
00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:07,000
inside a nuclear reactor.
332
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,000
The reactivity which generates power
333
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,000
either goes up, or it goes down.
334
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,000
That's it.
335
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,000
All the operators do
is maintain balance.
336
00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,000
Uranium fuel.
337
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,000
As uranium atoms
split apart and collide,
338
00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,000
reactivity goes up.
339
00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,000
But if you don't
balance the reactivity,
340
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,000
it never stops rising. So...
341
00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,000
Boron control rods.
342
00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:42,000
They reduce reactivity
like brakes on a car.
343
00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:47,000
But there's a third factor
to consider: water.
344
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,000
Cool water takes heat
out of the system.
345
00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,000
As it does, it turns to steam,
or what we call a "void."
346
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:58,000
In an RBMK reactor of
the type used at Chernobyl,
347
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,000
there's something called
a "positive void coefficient."
348
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,000
What does that mean?
349
00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:08,000
It means that the more steam
present within the system,
350
00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,000
the higher the reactivity,
351
00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:12,000
which means more heat,
which means more steam,
352
00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,000
which means...
353
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:18,000
It would appear we have
a vicious cycle on our hands.
354
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,000
And we would, were it not for this--
355
00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:32,000
And we would, were it not for this:
356
00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,000
the negative temperature
coefficient.
357
00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:41,000
When nuclear fuel gets hotter,
it gets less reactive, so...
358
00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:44,000
fuel increases reactivity.
359
00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,000
Control rods and water reduce it.
360
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,000
Steam increases it,
361
00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,000
and the rise in
temperature reduces it.
362
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,000
This is the invisible dance
363
00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,000
that powers entire cities
without smoke or flame.
364
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,000
And it is beautiful
365
00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:05,000
when things are normal.
366
00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,000
As uranium splits apart
to release energy,
367
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,000
it breaks down
into a new element, xenon.
368
00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,000
Xenon reduces reactivity.
369
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,000
This is the poison
Comrade Khomyuk mentioned.
370
00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,000
When the core is
running at full power,
371
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:24,000
it burns the xenon away
before it can cause a problem.
372
00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,000
But because of the delay,
373
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:30,000
Chernobyl Reactor 4 has
been held at half power
374
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:31,000
for ten hours.
375
00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,000
The xenon did not burn away.
376
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:40,000
It built up, poisoning the core.
377
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,000
We're starting to lose balance.
378
00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,000
At 28 minutes past midnight,
379
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,000
the reactor is now
primed to slow down.
380
00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,000
And yet, in less than an hour,
it will explode.
381
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,000
If you can't understand
how a stalled nuclear reactor
382
00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,000
could lead to an explosion,
I don't blame you.
383
00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,000
After all, you don't work
in the control room
384
00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:02,000
of a nuclear power plant.
385
00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:08,000
But as it turned out,
the men who did
386
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,000
didn't understand it either.
387
00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,000
Easy now.
388
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,000
Take it down.
389
00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,000
Good. Like that.
390
00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:22,000
You should
have finished by now.
391
00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,000
We're following protocol
for reduction rate.
392
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,000
You're procrastinating.
393
00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,000
There are ten other men in this
plant who would've done it already.
394
00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,000
Keep working.
You're doing fine.
395
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:43,000
Kirschenbaum, come get me
when these old women are ready.
396
00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,000
Yes, Comrade Dyatlov.
397
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,000
Okay, very slow now.
398
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,000
Let's ease it down to 700.
399
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,000
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow.
-I-I didn't move any rods there.
400
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:27,000
-What is this?
-I'm not even touching it.
401
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,000
We did everything right. I think
that maybe the core is poisoned.
402
00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,000
Well, if you thought
the core was poisoned,
403
00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,000
then you didn't do everything right,
because you're choking my reactor!
404
00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:00,000
-Get it back up!
-Uh, I think if we turn off LAC,
405
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,000
it may be possible
to get more control.
406
00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,000
-Do it. Go.
-Switch off local automatic control.
407
00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,000
Go to global.
Leonid.
408
00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:10,000
LAC disabled.
Global control activated.
409
00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:17,000
What did you do?
410
00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,000
-I-I did what you said. I switched--
-Look at it!
411
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,000
-I don't understand.
-Fucking amateurs.
412
00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,000
You stalled the reactor.
413
00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,000
-How the fuck did you get this job?
-Comrade Dyatlov--
414
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:30,000
You're gonna tell me
you did everything right again,
415
00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,000
you incompetent asshole?
416
00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,000
I apologize for this
unsatisfactory result.
417
00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,000
-What are you doing?
-We have to shut all the way down.
418
00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,000
-No.
-We could be in a xenon pit.
419
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,000
We have to shut down
and wait for 24 hours.
420
00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,000
No. We're doing the test
tonight. Raise power to 700.
421
00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,000
We can't raise the power from here.
422
00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:53,000
-The rules--
-Don't talk to me about rules.
423
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,000
-If we fall from 80%--
-No, no. We fell from 50%.
424
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,000
-Fifty percent is worse!
-The rules don't say 50!
425
00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,000
-There is no rule!
-Comrade Dyatlov,
426
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,000
I apologize, but what you're
saying makes no sense.
427
00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,000
-Raise the power.
-No.
428
00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,000
I won't do it.
It isn't safe.
429
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,000
Safety first. Always.
430
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:22,000
I've been saying that for 25 years.
431
00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,000
That's how long I've
done this job, 25 years.
432
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,000
-Is that longer than you, Akimov?
-Yes.
433
00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:29,000
-Is it much longer?
-Yes.
434
00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,000
And you with your mother's
tit barely out of your mouth?
435
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:35,000
So if I say it's safe, it's safe.
436
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,000
And if the two of you disagree,
437
00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,000
then you don't have to work
here and you won't.
438
00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,000
But not just here.
You won't work at Kursk
439
00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,000
or Ignalina or Leningrad
or Novo-Voronezh.
440
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:47,000
You won't work anywhere ever again.
I'll see to it.
441
00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,000
I think you know I will see to it.
442
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:52,000
Raise the power.
443
00:32:55,000 --> 00:32:57,000
I would like you
to record your command.
444
00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,000
Raise the power.
445
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,000
Together, then.
446
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,000
I wasn't even there.
447
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,000
What?
448
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,000
I wasn't in the room
when they raised the power.
449
00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:29,000
If you weren't there,
then where were you?
450
00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:32,000
Comrade Legasov, you are a
witness, not a prosecutor.
451
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:35,000
I will ask the questions here.
452
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,000
If you weren't in the room,
then where were you?
453
00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:41,000
The toilet.
454
00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:44,000
The toilet?
455
00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,000
Comrade Khomyuk interviewed everyone
456
00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,000
who was in the control
room that night.
457
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,000
They all told the same story.
458
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,000
"I knew what Dyatlov
ordered was wrong,
459
00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:59,000
but if I didn't do what
he said, I would be fired."
460
00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,000
Leonid Toptunov.
461
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:05,000
One day before he died.
462
00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,000
No, Comrade Dyatlov,
you were in the room.
463
00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:11,000
You ordered them to raise the power.
This is a fact.
464
00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,000
Court is now in recess.
465
00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:23,000
Thirty minutes.
466
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,000
Do you know anything
about this town, Chernobyl?
467
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,000
Not really, no.
468
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,000
It was mostly Jews and Poles.
469
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,000
The Jews were killed in pogroms,
470
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,000
and Stalin forced the Poles out.
471
00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,000
And then the Nazis came
and killed whoever was left.
472
00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:24,000
But after the war...
473
00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:28,000
people came to live here anyway.
474
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,000
They knew the ground under
their feet was soaked in blood,
475
00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,000
but they didn't care.
476
00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,000
Dead Jews, dead Poles.
477
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,000
But not them.
478
00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:46,000
No one ever thinks it's going
to happen to them.
479
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,000
And here we are.
480
00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,000
How much time?
481
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:01,000
Maybe a year.
482
00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:04,000
They call it a...
483
00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,000
They call it a "long illness."
484
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,000
It doesn't seem very long to me.
485
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,000
I know you told me,
and I believed you.
486
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:15,000
But time passed, and I thought,
487
00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:17,000
it wouldn't happen to me.
488
00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:20,000
I wasted it.
489
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,000
I wasted it all for nothing.
490
00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:26,000
For nothing?
491
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,000
Do you remember that morning
when I first called you,
492
00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,000
how unconcerned I was?
493
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,000
I don't believe much that
comes out of the Kremlin,
494
00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:35,000
but when they told me
they were putting me
495
00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,000
in charge of the cleanup
496
00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,000
and they said it wasn't serious,
I believed them.
497
00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:44,000
You know why?
498
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,000
Because they put you in charge.
499
00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:49,000
Yeah.
500
00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:55,000
I'm an inconsequential man, Valera.
501
00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:57,000
That's all I've ever been.
502
00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,000
I hoped that one day
I would matter, but I didn't.
503
00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,000
I just stood next to people who did.
504
00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,000
There are other scientists like me.
505
00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,000
Any one of them could
have done what I did.
506
00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:14,000
But you...
507
00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:19,000
Everything we asked for,
everything we needed.
508
00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:23,000
Men, material, lunar rovers.
509
00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,000
Who else could have
done these things?
510
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:33,000
They heard me,
but they listened to you.
511
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:37,000
Of all the ministers
and all the deputies--
512
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:41,000
entire congregation
of obedient fools--
513
00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,000
they mistakenly sent
the one good man.
514
00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:48,000
For god's sake, Boris,
515
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,000
you were the one who mattered most.
516
00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:14,000
Ah, it's beautiful.
517
00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,000
Comrade Legasov.
518
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,000
The time is 38 past midnight.
519
00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,000
The reactor is nearly shut down.
520
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,000
The operators of Reactor 4
are locked on a path
521
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:18,000
that leads directly to disaster.
522
00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:20,000
There's no way to turn back.
523
00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,000
They do not yet know it,
but the die is cast.
524
00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:27,000
At 30 megawatts,
xenon is still being created,
525
00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,000
but none of it is burning away.
526
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:33,000
The reactor is drowning in poison.
527
00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:37,000
To make matters worse,
the reactor isn't hot enough
528
00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,000
to produce sufficient steam.
529
00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:44,000
The only way to safely raise
power from this state
530
00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,000
is to do it very, very slowly
531
00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,000
over the course of 24 hours.
532
00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,000
But Dyatlov wants it done now.
533
00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:56,000
Akimov and Toptunov have
only one course of action.
534
00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,000
They begin pulling control rods out.
535
00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:00,000
Dozens at a time.
536
00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:03,000
Halfway out,
three-quarters of the way out,
537
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:05,000
still, the power does not budge.
538
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,000
So they begin pulling
them all the way out.
539
00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:12,000
There were 211 control rods
in Reactor 4.
540
00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:16,000
Akimov and Toptunov
completely withdrew 205.
541
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:21,000
Remember-- control rods are
the brakes on this car.
542
00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:27,000
Of 211 rods, only six
now remain in the reactor.
543
00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:31,000
As for the fuel, it's gone cold,
544
00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:33,000
so the negative
temperature coefficient
545
00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:36,000
is no longer weighing
down the reactivity.
546
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:40,000
But even still, the xenon
poisoning is so strong,
547
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:44,000
the best they can do is raise
the power to 200 megawatts.
548
00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,000
The control rods are out.
549
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,000
The emergency system
has been disconnected.
550
00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,000
The only thing keeping
the reactor in check
551
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:54,000
is water and xenon.
552
00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:58,000
It's one in the morning.
The test is minutes away.
553
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:33,000
I'm sorry, this is all we can get.
554
00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:36,000
It's 200 megawatts.
We've pulled almost everything out.
555
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:38,000
If that's all we have,
that's all we have.
556
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:42,000
-But the test requires 700.
-Stolyarchuk, let's get ready.
557
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:43,000
-Switch on pump 4.
-No, wait a second.
558
00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:45,000
-Stolyarchuk--
-We have barely enough steam as it is.
559
00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:46,000
The turbine is going too slow
for the test
560
00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:48,000
-to deliver any valid results.
-It's enough.
561
00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:49,000
And if we add more water,
there will be even less--
562
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:53,000
I said it's enough.
I know what I'm doing. Stolyarchuk.
563
00:41:58,000 --> 00:41:59,000
Main Pump 4, connected.
564
00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:01,000
We should warn Khodemchuk.
The pipes are gonna be--
565
00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:03,000
Never mind him.
Kirschenbaum?
566
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:09,000
The steam in the separator drum
is too low-- five atmospheres.
567
00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:12,000
All right, let's all help him.
Get it up as best you can.
568
00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:17,000
We should stop.
569
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,000
Turn that
fucking thing off.
570
00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:21,000
You have 15 minutes.
571
00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,000
Fifteen minutes.
572
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:28,000
They may as well have had 15 days.
573
00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:31,000
The problem they were facing
was not solvable.
574
00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:33,000
The power was too low,
the water was too high.
575
00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:35,000
The test was already ruined.
576
00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:38,000
The results would have been useless,
but Dyatlov didn't care.
577
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:41,000
All he wanted to do was
report a completed test.
578
00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:44,000
1:22 a.m.
579
00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:47,000
Less than two minutes remain.
580
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:52,000
Yuvchenko, a mechanical
engineer, is in his office.
581
00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:58,000
Perevozchenko,
reactor section foreman,
582
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,000
is in the refueling hall,
583
00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:04,000
high above the 1,000-ton
steel reactor cover.
584
00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,000
Degtaryenko and Khodemchuk,
585
00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:11,000
circulation operators,
are in the pump room.
586
00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:14,000
None of them have been told
587
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,000
about the test.
588
00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,000
None of them know
what is about to happen.
589
00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:22,000
At 1:22 and 30 seconds,
590
00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:24,000
Toptunov sees a report
591
00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:28,000
from the reactor's
SKALA computer system.
592
00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:31,000
Based on the absence
of sufficient control rods,
593
00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:34,000
the computer is recommending
that the reactor be shut down.
594
00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:43,000
Well, of course it's saying that.
It doesn't know we're running a test.
595
00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:46,000
All right, comrades.
596
00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:50,000
Another few minutes,
it will all be over.
597
00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:52,000
Kirschenbaum, when you're ready.
598
00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:53,000
We did everything right.
599
00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,000
Oscillograph on.
600
00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:02,000
Closing Number 8 throttle valve.
601
00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:03,000
Generator
rotor beginning rundown.
602
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:07,000
1:23 and four seconds.
603
00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:11,000
With every decision, they have pulled
this reactor back like a slingshot,
604
00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:13,000
further than anyone has ever pulled,
605
00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:15,000
now the test begins.
606
00:44:15,000 --> 00:44:19,000
The pumps are shut down,
and they've let go.
607
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:24,000
The pumps stop moving water
through the reactor.
608
00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:27,000
Uranium fuel is now
unchecked by fresh coolant,
609
00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,000
unchecked by control rods.
610
00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:32,000
The balance immediately swings
in the opposite direction.
611
00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:34,000
In less than a second,
612
00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:36,000
reactivity increases.
613
00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:40,000
Inside the core, the remaining water is
quickly converting to steam.
614
00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:42,000
A void is being created.
615
00:44:43,000 --> 00:44:45,000
There is no fresh water
to replace it.
616
00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:48,000
Steam increases reactivity,
617
00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:51,000
increases heat, increases steam,
618
00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:54,000
increases reactivity.
619
00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:57,000
The remaining xenon decays away.
620
00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:00,000
The power is rising.
621
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:04,000
There's nothing left to stop it.
622
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:08,000
1:23 and 35 seconds.
623
00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:13,000
We have a power surge! Sasha!
624
00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,000
What did you do?!
625
00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:24,000
1:23 and 40 seconds.
626
00:45:31,000 --> 00:45:33,000
In every control room of every
nuclear reactor in the world,
627
00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:37,000
there is a button
with one single purpose--
628
00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,000
to "scram," or instantly
shut down, the reaction.
629
00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:44,000
In Soviet reactors,
that button is called AZ-5.
630
00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:48,000
You press AZ-5, all of the
control rods insert at once,
631
00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:52,000
and the reaction is stopped dead.
632
00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:54,000
But...
633
00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:03,000
What are you waiting for, Legasov?
Tell your lies.
634
00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:05,000
Comrade Dyatlov,
you will not be warned again.
635
00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,000
-Or what?
-For god's sake, Dyatlov.
636
00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:09,000
Legasov's already given it away.
637
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:13,000
He said before, there was no way
to avoid what was coming.
638
00:46:13,000 --> 00:46:14,000
-He knows something.
-Comrade Dyatlov.
639
00:46:14,000 --> 00:46:16,000
She knows something.
640
00:46:17,000 --> 00:46:21,000
I know what you are, Valery Alexeyevich.
You're a liar.
641
00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:22,000
We've heard enough for today.
642
00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:26,000
The defendants
will be remanded in custody.
643
00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:29,000
-Court will--
-I... I haven't finished.
644
00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:31,000
I still have more evidence to give.
645
00:46:31,000 --> 00:46:34,000
It's not necessary.
Your testimony is concluded.
646
00:46:34,000 --> 00:46:37,000
-Your Honor.
-Court is now adjourned.
647
00:46:37,000 --> 00:46:40,000
-We will resume tomorrow with--
-Let him finish.
648
00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,000
Comrade Shcherbina...
649
00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:48,000
Let him finish.
650
00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:14,000
Dyatlov broke every rule we have.
651
00:47:17,000 --> 00:47:20,000
He pushed a reactor
to the brink of destruction.
652
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:27,000
He did these things believing
there was a failsafe.
653
00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:30,000
AZ-5, a simple button
to shut it all down.
654
00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:35,000
But in the circumstances
he created, there wasn't.
655
00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,000
The shutdown system
had a fatal flaw.
656
00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:45,000
At 1:23:40, Akimov engages AZ-5.
657
00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:56,000
The fully-withdrawn control rods
begin moving back into the reactor.
658
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:59,000
These rods are made of boron,
which reduces reactivity,
659
00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:01,000
but not their tips.
660
00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:05,000
The tips are made of graphite,
which accelerates reactivity.
661
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:07,000
Why?
662
00:48:11,000 --> 00:48:13,000
Why?
663
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,000
For the same reason our reactors
664
00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,000
do not have containment
buildings around them,
665
00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:21,000
like those in the West.
666
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:23,000
For the same reason we don't use
667
00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:26,000
properly enriched fuel in our cores.
668
00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:28,000
For the same reason
we are the only nation
669
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:32,000
that builds water-cooled,
graphite-moderated reactors
670
00:48:32,000 --> 00:48:35,000
with a positive void coefficient.
671
00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:37,000
It's cheaper.
672
00:48:44,000 --> 00:48:46,000
The first part
of the rods that enter the core
673
00:48:46,000 --> 00:48:48,000
are the graphite tips.
674
00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:50,000
And when they do,
the reaction in the core,
675
00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:53,000
which had been rising, skyrockets.
676
00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:56,000
Every last molecule of liquid water
677
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:58,000
instantly converts to steam,
678
00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:01,000
which expands and ruptures
a series of fuel rod channels.
679
00:49:01,000 --> 00:49:05,000
The control rods in those
channels can move no further.
680
00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:07,000
The graphite tips are
fixed in position,
681
00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:10,000
endlessly accelerating the reaction.
682
00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:14,000
Chernobyl Reactor 4
is now a nuclear bomb.
683
00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:16,000
1:23:42.
684
00:49:17,000 --> 00:49:18,000
Perevozchenko looks down
685
00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:21,000
on the enormous steel lid of the reactor
686
00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:23,000
and sees the impossible.
687
00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:25,000
The control rod
and fuel channel caps,
688
00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:27,000
which each weigh 350 kilograms,
689
00:49:27,000 --> 00:49:28,000
are jumping up and down.
690
00:49:29,000 --> 00:49:31,000
He runs to warn the control room.
691
00:49:31,000 --> 00:49:34,000
But there's nothing he can do
to stop what is coming.
692
00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:37,000
1:23 and 44 seconds.
693
00:49:37,000 --> 00:49:41,000
The steam
blows more fuel channels apart.
694
00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:43,000
We do not know
how high the power went.
695
00:49:43,000 --> 00:49:44,000
We only know the final reading.
696
00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:48,000
Reactor 4,
697
00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:51,000
designed to operate
at 3200 megawatts,
698
00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:55,000
went beyond 33,000.
699
00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:03,000
The pressure inside the core
can no longer be held back.
700
00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:09,000
At long last, we have arrived.
1:23:45, explosion.
701
00:50:11,000 --> 00:50:15,000
In the instant the lid is thrown
off the reactor, oxygen rushes in.
702
00:50:15,000 --> 00:50:19,000
It combines with hydrogen
and super-heated graphite.
703
00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:24,000
The chain of disaster
is now complete.
704
00:50:44,000 --> 00:50:47,000
Comrade Dyatlov!
705
00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:53,000
Comrade Dyatlov!
706
00:51:03,000 --> 00:51:06,000
No one in the
room that night knew
707
00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:09,000
the shutdown button
could act as a detonator.
708
00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:13,000
They didn't know it,
709
00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,000
because it was kept from them.
710
00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:18,000
Comrade Legasov,
you're contradicting
711
00:51:18,000 --> 00:51:20,000
your own testimony in Vienna.
712
00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:23,000
My testimony in Vienna was a lie.
713
00:51:24,000 --> 00:51:26,000
I lied to the world.
714
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:30,000
I'm not the only one who kept
this secret. There are many.
715
00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:34,000
We were following orders,
716
00:51:34,000 --> 00:51:36,000
from the KGB,
from the Central Committee.
717
00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:38,000
And right now, there are
16 reactors in the Soviet Union
718
00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:41,000
with the same fatal flaw.
719
00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:43,000
Three of them are still running
720
00:51:43,000 --> 00:51:45,000
less than 20 kilometers
away at Chernobyl.
721
00:51:45,000 --> 00:51:49,000
Professor Legasov, if you mean
to suggest the Soviet State
722
00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:51,000
is somehow responsible
for what happened,
723
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:53,000
then I must warn you, you are
treading on dangerous ground.
724
00:51:54,000 --> 00:51:56,000
I've already trod
on dangerous ground.
725
00:51:56,000 --> 00:51:58,000
We're on dangerous ground right now,
726
00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,000
because of our secrets and our lies.
727
00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:03,000
They're practically what define us.
728
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:07,000
When the truth offends,
we lie and lie
729
00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:09,000
until we can no longer
remember it is even there.
730
00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:11,000
But it is still there.
731
00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:18,000
Every lie we tell incurs
a debt to the truth.
732
00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:23,000
Sooner or later, that debt is paid.
733
00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:32,000
That is how an RBMK
reactor core explodes.
734
00:52:36,000 --> 00:52:37,000
Lies.
735
00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,000
Valery Alexeyevich Legasov,
736
00:54:39,000 --> 00:54:42,000
son of Alexei Legasov,
737
00:54:42,000 --> 00:54:45,000
Head of Ideological Compliance,
Central Committee.
738
00:54:45,000 --> 00:54:47,000
Do you know what
your father did there?
739
00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:49,000
Yes.
740
00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:53,000
As a student, you had a
leadership position in Komsomol.
741
00:54:53,000 --> 00:54:55,000
Communist Youth, correct?
742
00:54:56,000 --> 00:54:58,000
-You already know.
-Answer the question.
743
00:54:58,000 --> 00:55:00,000
Yes.
744
00:55:01,000 --> 00:55:03,000
At the Kuchartov Institute,
745
00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:06,000
you were the Communist
Party secretary.
746
00:55:06,000 --> 00:55:10,000
In the position, you limited
the promotion of Jewish scientists.
747
00:55:14,000 --> 00:55:16,000
Yes.
748
00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:19,000
To curry favor
with Kremlin officials.
749
00:55:24,000 --> 00:55:26,000
You're one of us, Legasov.
750
00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:29,000
I can do anything I want with you.
751
00:55:31,000 --> 00:55:35,000
But what I want most is
for you to know that I know.
752
00:55:35,000 --> 00:55:37,000
You're not brave.
753
00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:39,000
You're not heroic.
754
00:55:41,000 --> 00:55:44,000
You're just a dying man
who forgot himself.
755
00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:47,000
I know who I am,
and I know what I've done.
756
00:55:50,000 --> 00:55:52,000
In a just world,
I'd be shot for my lies,
757
00:55:52,000 --> 00:55:55,000
but not for this, not for the truth.
758
00:55:55,000 --> 00:55:57,000
Scientists...
759
00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:01,000
and your idiot obsessions
with reasons.
760
00:56:01,000 --> 00:56:03,000
When the bullet hits your skull,
761
00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:06,000
what will it matter why?
762
00:56:13,000 --> 00:56:15,000
No one's getting shot, Legasov.
763
00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:19,000
The whole world saw you in Vienna.
764
00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:21,000
It would be embarrassing
to kill you now.
765
00:56:21,000 --> 00:56:23,000
And for what?
766
00:56:23,000 --> 00:56:26,000
Your testimony today will not
be accepted by the State.
767
00:56:27,000 --> 00:56:29,000
It will not be
disseminated in the press.
768
00:56:29,000 --> 00:56:31,000
It never happened.
769
00:56:32,000 --> 00:56:35,000
No, you will live,
770
00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:37,000
however long you have,
771
00:56:37,000 --> 00:56:41,000
but not as a scientist, not anymore.
772
00:56:41,000 --> 00:56:45,000
You'll keep your title
and your office,
773
00:56:46,000 --> 00:56:50,000
but no duties,
no authority, no friends.
774
00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:52,000
No one will talk to you.
775
00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:54,000
No one will listen to you.
776
00:56:56,000 --> 00:57:00,000
Other men, lesser men,
777
00:57:00,000 --> 00:57:04,000
will receive credit for
the things you have done.
778
00:57:04,000 --> 00:57:06,000
Your legacy is now their legacy.
779
00:57:06,000 --> 00:57:08,000
You'll live long enough to see that.
780
00:57:12,000 --> 00:57:14,000
What role did
Shcherbina play in this?
781
00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:18,000
None.
He didn't know what I was gonna say.
782
00:57:19,000 --> 00:57:22,000
What role did Khomyuk play in this?
783
00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:23,000
None.
784
00:57:24,000 --> 00:57:26,000
She didn't know either.
785
00:57:27,000 --> 00:57:30,000
After all you've said
and done today,
786
00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:35,000
it would be curious
if you chose this moment to lie.
787
00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:40,000
I would think a man
of your experience
788
00:57:40,000 --> 00:57:42,000
would know a lie when he hears one.
789
00:57:46,000 --> 00:57:50,000
You will not meet or communicate
with either one of them ever again.
790
00:57:50,000 --> 00:57:52,000
You will not communicate with anyone
791
00:57:52,000 --> 00:57:54,000
about Chernobyl ever again.
792
00:57:55,000 --> 00:57:58,000
You will remain so immaterial
to the world around you
793
00:57:58,000 --> 00:58:00,000
that when you finally do die,
794
00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:03,000
it will be exceedingly hard to
know that you ever lived at all.
795
00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:09,000
What if I refuse?
796
00:58:13,000 --> 00:58:16,000
Why worry about something
that isn't going to happen?
797
00:58:17,000 --> 00:58:21,000
"Why worry about something
that isn't going to happen?"
798
00:58:21,000 --> 00:58:23,000
Oh, that's perfect.
799
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:26,000
They should put that on our money.
800
00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:36,000
To be a scientist is to be naive.
801
00:59:36,000 --> 00:59:39,000
We are so focused on
our search for truth,
802
00:59:39,000 --> 00:59:43,000
we fail to consider how few
actually want us to find it.
803
00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:47,000
But it is always there,
whether we see it or not,
804
00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:49,000
whether we choose to or not.
805
00:59:49,000 --> 00:59:52,000
The truth doesn't care
about our needs or wants.
806
00:59:52,000 --> 00:59:54,000
It doesn't care about
our governments,
807
00:59:54,000 --> 00:59:57,000
our ideologies, our religions.
808
00:59:57,000 --> 01:00:01,000
It will lie in wait for all time.
809
01:00:01,000 --> 01:00:05,000
And this, at last,
is the gift of Chernobyl.
810
01:00:05,000 --> 01:00:10,000
Where I once would fear
the cost of truth, now I only ask:
811
01:00:11,000 --> 01:00:13,000
What is the cost of lies?
812
01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:23,000
Valery Legasov took his own life
at the age of 51 on April 26, 1988,
813
01:00:23,000 --> 01:00:28,000
exactly two years
after the explosion at Chernobyl.
814
01:00:29,000 --> 01:00:32,000
The audio tapes of Legasov's memoirs
815
01:00:32,000 --> 01:00:35,000
were circulated among
the Soviet scientific community.
816
01:00:35,000 --> 01:00:40,000
His suicide made it impossible
for them to be ignored.
817
01:00:41,000 --> 01:00:45,000
In the aftermath of his death,
Soviet officials finally acknowledged
818
01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:49,000
the design flaws of the
RBMK nuclear reactor.
819
01:00:50,000 --> 01:00:52,000
The reactors were retrofitted
820
01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:57,000
to prevent an accident like Chernobyl
from happening again.
821
01:00:59,000 --> 01:01:03,000
Legasov was aided by dozens
of scientists
822
01:01:03,000 --> 01:01:06,000
who worked tirelessly
alongside him at Chernobyl.
823
01:01:08,000 --> 01:01:11,000
Some spoke out against
the official account of events
824
01:01:12,000 --> 01:01:15,000
and were subject to denunciation,
arrest and imprisonment.
825
01:01:17,000 --> 01:01:20,000
The character of Ulana Khomyuk
was created to represent them all
826
01:01:21,000 --> 01:01:24,000
and to honor their dedication
and service to truth and humanity.
827
01:01:27,000 --> 01:01:32,000
Boris Shcherbina died
on August 22, 1990,
828
01:01:32,000 --> 01:01:39,000
four years and four months
after he was sent to Chernobyl.
829
01:01:41,000 --> 01:01:45,000
For their roles in the Chernobyl
disaster, Viktor Bryukhanov,
830
01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:51,000
Anatoly Dyatlov and Nikolai Fomin were
sentenced to ten years hard labor.
831
01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:56,000
After his release, Nikolai Fomin
returned to work...
832
01:01:56,000 --> 01:02:00,000
at a nuclear power plant
in Kalinin, Russia.
833
01:02:03,000 --> 01:02:08,000
Anatoly Dyatlov died from
radiation-related illness in 1995.
834
01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:10,000
He was 64.
835
01:02:15,000 --> 01:02:19,000
Valery Khodemchuk's body
was never recovered.
836
01:02:19,000 --> 01:02:23,000
He is permanently entombed
under Reactor 4.
837
01:02:25,000 --> 01:02:29,000
The firefighters' clothing remains
in the basement of Pripyat Hospital.
838
01:02:29,000 --> 01:02:33,000
It is dangerously radioactive
to this day.
839
01:02:38,000 --> 01:02:42,000
Following the death
of her husband and daughter,
840
01:02:42,000 --> 01:02:46,000
Lyudmilla Ignatenko suffered
multiple strokes.
841
01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:51,000
Doctors told her she would never
be able to bear a child.
842
01:02:54,000 --> 01:02:57,000
They were wrong.
843
01:02:57,000 --> 01:03:01,000
She lives with her son in Kiev.
844
01:03:04,000 --> 01:03:08,000
Of the people who watched
from the railway bridge,
845
01:03:08,000 --> 01:03:11,000
it has been reported
that none survived.
846
01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:15,000
It is now known
as The Bridge of Death.
847
01:03:17,000 --> 01:03:20,000
400 miners worked around the clock
for one month
848
01:03:20,000 --> 01:03:23,000
to prevent a total nuclear meltdown.
849
01:03:23,000 --> 01:03:28,000
It is estimated that at least 100
of them died before the age of 40.
850
01:03:29,000 --> 01:03:31,000
It has been widely reported
that the three divers
851
01:03:32,000 --> 01:03:36,000
who drained the bubbler tanks died
as a result of their heroic actions.
852
01:03:37,000 --> 01:03:41,000
In fact, all three survived
after hospitalization.
853
01:03:41,000 --> 01:03:45,000
Two are still alive today.
854
01:03:47,000 --> 01:03:51,000
Over 600,000 people were conscripted
to serve in the Exclusion Zone.
855
01:03:51,000 --> 01:03:55,000
Despite widespread accounts of sickness
and death as a result of radiation,
856
01:03:55,000 --> 01:04:00,000
the Soviet government kept
no official records of their fate.
857
01:04:00,000 --> 01:04:04,000
The contaminated region of Ukraine and
Belarus, known as the Exclusion Zone,
858
01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:08,000
ultimately encompassed
2,600 square kilometers.
859
01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:17,000
Approximately 300,000 people
were displaced from their homes.
860
01:04:17,000 --> 01:04:20,000
They were told this was temporary.
861
01:04:21,000 --> 01:04:25,000
It is still forbidden to return.
862
01:04:29,000 --> 01:04:33,000
Mikhail Gorbachev presided
over the Soviet Union
863
01:04:33,000 --> 01:04:36,000
until its dissolution in 1991.
864
01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:39,000
In 2006, he wrote:
"The nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl"
865
01:04:39,000 --> 01:04:45,000
"was perhaps the true cause of
the collapse of the Soviet Union."
866
01:04:47,000 --> 01:04:51,000
In 2017, work was completed on the
New Safe Confinement at Chernobyl,
867
01:04:51,000 --> 01:04:55,000
at a cost of nearly
two billion dollars.
868
01:04:56,000 --> 01:04:59,000
It is designed to last 100 years.
869
01:05:01,000 --> 01:05:06,000
Following the explosion, there was
a dramatic spike in cancer rates
870
01:05:06,000 --> 01:05:08,000
across Ukraine and Belarus.
871
01:05:08,000 --> 01:05:13,000
The highest increase
was among children.
872
01:05:17,000 --> 01:05:21,000
We will never know the actual
human cost of Chernobyl.
873
01:05:21,000 --> 01:05:25,000
Most estimates range from
4,000 to 93,000 deaths.
874
01:05:31,000 --> 01:05:36,000
The official Soviet death toll,
unchanged since 1987, is 31.
875
01:05:49,000 --> 01:05:55,000
In memory of all who suffered
and sacrificed.
64492
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