Valery Legasov biography book 02

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A comprehensive overview of Valery Legasov’s investgation of the Chernobyl Disaster and his choices

Provides detailed insights into Legasov’s team writing the report. Investigation, analyzing the cause of the disaster

The involvement of The KGB and their suppress of information to cover up soviet government mistakes on Chernobyl

Showcasing details of legasov fateful death and the legacy he has made on the modern nuclear industry

Valery Legasov, about his testimony about the Chernobyl disaster to the west at the Vienna conference

I did not lie in Vienna ... but I did not tell the full truth .

Overview

Valery Legasov, was also a key figure in the investigation of the Chernobyl disaster and played a crucial role in uncovering the truth behind the accident and advocating for necessary changes to prevent similar catastrophes in the future.

In his report on the Chernobyl disaster, Legasov highlighted the flaws of the Soviet RBMK reactor design and exposed the systemic failures and negligence that led to the accident.

The report also aimed to shed light on the causes of the disaster, including the inadequacies in reactor design, safety protocols, and the prevailing culture of secrecy and cover-up within the Soviet Union. His thorough analysis and recommendations were intended to ensure that such a tragedy would never happen again, both within the Soviet Union and globally.

His efforts to reveal the truth and push for reforms were met with resistance from the Soviet government and the KGB. The Soviet authorities were initially hesitant to acknowledge the severity of the

disaster and downplayed its consequences to maintain their image of technological prowess. They also sought to protect the reputation of the RBMK reactor, a cornerstone of their nuclear program.

As a result, Legasov faced attempts to silence him and discredit his findings. This book shows the Soviet government and the KGB attempted to suppress the truth, fearing that it would undermine their authority and expose the systemic flaws within the Soviet nuclear industry and Valery Legasov on his stance in his pursuit of truth and justice. For transparency, accountability, and the cost he has to bear as a result.

THE CHERNOBYL REPORT

Following the containment efforts and evcuation effots of the catastrophic nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union (present-day Ukraine), a comprehensive report was compiled to analyze the causes, impacts, and lessons learned from the incident called ‘ The Chernobyl Report’

The Chernobyl report documented various aspects of the accident, including the sequence of events leading up to the explosion, the failures in reactor design, safety procedures, and human error. It also detailed the environmental and health consequences of the disaster, estimating the release of radioactive materials and their dispersion in the surrounding areas.

The report was prepared by a ‘The Chernobyl Disaster Government Commission’ which included scientists, engineers, and government officials who were tasked with investigating the accident, assessing the damage, and formulating recommendations for future nuclear safety. With Valery Legasoc responsible for leading the team to write, analyze, investigate all sort of details of the disaster from the reactor to every people who work in it.

Valery Legasov, as the head of the commission, took on significant responsibility for overseeing the investigation, coordinating the work of the commission members, and compiling the final report. He played a crucial role in ensuring that the report accurately documented the causes of the accident, its consequences, and the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Despite the challenges and limitations, Valery Legasov’s leadership and the collective efforts of the State Commission on the Chernobyl Accident resulted in the production of a significant report that provided valuable insights into the causes and consequences of the disaster. The report received positive feedback from the west.

The Contributors

A lot of experts from the commission contribute to the Chernobyl report and worked tirelessly for it. Even most of their identities were not publicly disclosed due to the secrecy of the Soviet Union. However, some of the specific individuals who contributed to the writing of the Chernobyl Report are members of the INSAG and other experts in the field of nuclear safety.

Although there were not many public information to confirm the true amount of people who worked on the report. Legasov did credit a few of these people in the main content of the report. Each of them had their own roles on investigating, documenting and analyzing the disaster.

Abagyan, A. A.

Asmlov, V. G.

Gus’kova, A. K.

Denin, V. F.

Ii’in, L. A.

Izrael’, Yu. A.

Kalugin, A. K.

Konviz, V. S.

Kuz’znin, I. I.

Kuntsevich, A. D.

Legasov, V. A.

Mysenkov, A. I.

Pavlovskiy, 0. A.

Petrov, V. N.

Pikalov, V. K.

Protsenko, A. N.

Ryazantsev, Ye. P.

Sivintsev, Yu. V.

Sukhoruchkin, V. K.

Tokarenko, V. F.

Khirulev, A. A.

Shakh, 0. Ya.

Malkin. S. D.

LEGASOV’S INVESTIGATION

PUBLISHED DATE : September period, 1986

CLASSIFICATION : PERMISSION ONLY

MANAGED BY : Chernobyl Disaster Goverment Commission (led by Legasov)

SUBJECT : Working document for Chernobyl Investigation of the disaster

PUBLICATION : NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Based on the investigation conducted by the State Commission on the Chernobyl Accident led by Legasov, revealed several key findings regarding the causes of the disaster. Here are some of the significant conclusions from the report:

Design Flaws

The report identified fundamental design flaws in the RBMK reactor, including unsafe control rod design, a positive void coefficient, and poor containment structure. These design deficiencies contributed to the severity of the accident.

Positive Void Coefficient :

One of the most significant design flaws was the positive void coefficient. In normal operation, this means that as steam bubbles form in the reactor coolant, it reduces the ability to moderate the nuclear reaction effectively. This positive feedback loop led to an increase in power output, creating a highly unstable reactor configuration.

Inadequate Control Rod Design :

The RBMK reactor used graphite-tipped control rods, which initially displaced water coolant when inserted. This temporary increase in reactivity caused a power surge before the control rods could fully absorb neutrons and reduce the power output. This design flaw contributed to the rapid power increase during the Chernobyl accident.

Poor Containment Structure :

The RBMK reactor lacked a robust containment structure. The reactor core was housed in a relatively flimsy building, which offered minimal protection against the release of radioactive materials during a severe accident. This design flaw resulted in the widespread dispersion of radioactive debris following the explosion.

Limited Safety Features :

The RBMK reactor had limited safety features compared to other reactor designs. It lacked certain key safety systems, such as a secondary containment structure and a core-catcher to mitigate the consequences of a catastrophic accident.

Dyatlov , Fomin and Bryukhanov on trial for mishandling the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor and cause a Nuclear disaster. All of them were sentence to 10 years in prison

Human Error

Human error played a significant role in the disaster. While design flaws existed in the RBMK reactor, the actions and decisions of the operators on the night of the accident exacerbated the situation.

Violation of Safety Procedures :

During a safety test being conducted at Chernobyl, several safety procedures were violated. The operators deviated from the approved test protocol and disabled critical safety systems, including the emergency core cooling system. This deviation from established procedures increased the risk of an accident.

Inadequate Training:

The operators involved in the test at Chernobyl were not adequately trained to handle the complex situations that arose during the test. Their understanding of the reactor’s behavior and response to certain conditions was insufficient.

Failure

Of Communication :

There was a lack of effective communication between the operators, shift supervisors, and higher-level management. Important information about the reactor’s condition and the risks involved was not properly conveyed, leading to a delayed and inadequate response to the unfolding crisis.

Overconfidence and Complacency :

The operators and management at Chernobyl particularly Anatoly Dyatlov, Nikolai Fomin and Viktor Bryukhanov had a sense of overconfidence in the safety of the reactor and a complacent mindset regarding potential risks. This mindset contributed to a disregard for safety protocols and a failure to recognize the gravity of the situation until it was too late.

CENSORSHIP

When the first draft of Legasov’s report was received by the Central Committee, some were shocked that he disclosed the entire context he wrote, being the representative of the Soviet delegation for the meeting, Legasov had no choice but to be as honest as possible about the details of the catastrophe.

The ministers later forwarded it to the KGB who came up with the recommendation that the authors be prosecuted. As the KGB also implies that to find fault with the reactor design would directly implicate senior members of the Soviet government. As a result Legasov got himself into a dilemma where he found himself caught between either telling the truth to improve the nuclear programme for the greater benefit or obey Soviet government’s desire to limit the spread of information about the disaster in order to maintain a positive image.

The KGB

Also known as the Committee for State Security, the KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union and act as their unit for intelligence, counterintelligence, and internal security.

The KGB played a pivotal role in shaping the Soviet Union’s security and was considered the primary government security agency during the later decades of the Soviet Union.

They’re were feared due to its extensive surveillance over the world and the control over the Soviet population. As they have the capability to silence someone from within and outside of the Soviet Union should the individual represent a threat to their country’s government ideology and their control in the Soviet Union.

Legasov’s frustration with the KGB’s interference in the investigation process and their attempts to suppress information about the causes and consequences of the disaster.

‘The KGB, instead of helping, is obstructing, they are trying to hide their own failures and mistakes.’

INVOLVEMENT OF THE KGB

The KGB was obviously unhappy with Valery Legasov’s report on the Chernobyl disaster as Legasov did not undisclosed all the flaws the Soviet Union involvement in the disaster. Legasov and other scientists challenged the official propaganda and exposed the failures of the Soviet system, including negligence, inadequate safety measures, and the cover-up attempts. This was seen as a threat to the government’s image and the reputation of the Soviet Union. As a result, the KGB, along with other government agencies, attempted to downplay the significance of Legasov’s report and suppress its findings. Legasov himself faced pressure and was reportedly marginalized following the release of the report.

Methods involved

Silencing Legasov :

Valery Legasov was seen as a potential threat by the Soviet government because of his knowledge of the flaws in the RBMK reactor design and the systemic issues that contributed to the accident. The KGB aimed to suppress his voice and prevent him from speaking out further about the shortcomings of the Soviet nuclear industry. Especially from the eyes of the west during the Vienna Conference.

Monitoring and Surveilance:

The KGB closely monitored Legasov’s activities and communications, keeping a watchful eye on his actions and interactions. This surveillance was intended to ensure that he did not disclose sensitive information or criticize the government’s handling of the disaster beyond what was deemed acceptable.

Restricted Access :

The KGB imposed restrictions on Legasov’s access to certain information and limited his involvement in future nuclear-related matters. This was done to minimize his influence and prevent him from further exposing the flaws and deficiencies of the Soviet nuclear program.

AFTER VIENNA INITIATIVE

AUTHORISE BY : The KGB

METHODS : Monitor and restriction of any access to this individual

MANAGED BY : KGB operatives

NAME :

Valery Legasov

POSITION : Chief Scientific Leader of the Chernobyl Disaster Goverment Commission

ACTIVITY : Disclosed full information of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

Criticism of the Soviet Government and the KGB

METHOD : Restrict access of communication

Closed surveillance for preventing leaking undisclosed information

OUTLINE : Following the Vienna conference, Legasov was quite popular in Europe for his efforts in Chernobyl and was named person of the year and top 10 scientist in the world at that time. But back in the Soviet Union he remains a threat to our communist party’s grip on the Soviet Union and our agency as a whole as it was a deep contrast to the attitude of the majority of power players in the Soviet government who had tried to downplay the extent of the catastrophe.

As a result, any form of information relating to his efforts and his investigation on the Chernobyl Disaster must remain undisclosed at all cost. In the meantime, the KGB operatives are currently handling his exile in Moscow. He will remain in his position but is refrained from carrying out his duties, close surveillance of this individual is highly recommended as we need to prevent him spreading the information he had on others and the public.

THE VIENNA CONGRESS

DATE : 25 - 29 of August 1986

LOCATION : Vienna, Austria

OUTCOME : Public relations triumph for the Soviet Union

The Soviet government were happy that the conference was considered a public relations triumph as the actual information of the Chernobyl disaster was being contained and they could improve their faulty nuclear reactor power in the future without world’s suspicion or media scrutiny. Unfortunately for Legasov, who was deeply concerned and traumatized by the whole incident and wanted to ensure it will never happen again in the future, was deeply disappointed and lost faith in his own government once he was deeply committed to it which is why we could not afford any of his views of the disaster be shared to the public.

It is noted that Legasov will be the only one in the commission not be awarded the ‘Hero of the Socialist Labor’ due to his habit of violating the chain of command and his lack of deference to the scientific establishment had irked senior members of the scientific community especiallly after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and his undisclosed report of his investigation.

RECORDED STATEMENT FROM THE LEGASOV TAPES

DATE: Unknown

TAPE VARIANT: The Legasov Tapes (Tape 4 Side A)

RECORDED BY: Valery Legasov

SUBJECT:

PART: #003 Legasov describing his involvement with the liquidation

STATEMENT TRANSACRIPT:

“

And when I visited the Chernobyl station after the accident and saw what was happening there, I myself drew a precise and unequivocal conclusion, that the Chernobyl disaster is an apotheosis, the pinnacle of all the mismanagement that has been carried out for decades in our country. ... [In operation there was] No careful monitoring of the instrument, no attention to the condition of the equipment between planned preventive maintenance... When one looks at the chain of events, why someone acted in this way and another in that way and so on, it is impossible to point to a single culprit, an initiator of all the unpleasant events that led to the crime. Because it is a chain that links to itself... allowing operation of stations without an external localisation shelter. This mistake was fundamental... The first design mistake was that there should be at

least two emergency protection systems, as required by international standards and as common sense suggests... second emergency protection system must work independently, whatever the circumstances of the operator may

And finally, the third design mistake, which is hard to explain, was that all the numerous emergency protection systems were accessible to the station staff... Of course, the mistakes made by the operators are well known and there is no need to list them yet again. These mistakes themselves are monstrous... I would very much like to ask to make such a statement that, as of today, we do not have safe nuclear energy, or a concept of safe nuclear energy, or even a concept of a safe nuclear reactor that is completely ready...

Legasov expressed concerns that a similar nuclear accident could still occur during an interview with journalist Ales Adamovich while hospitalized at Moscow Hospital 6 in Moscow, Soviet Union

I feel sick thinking about exactly what is most likely to happen to us in the near future... unless the necessary measures are taken. Moreover, the measures that can be taken to prevent this from happening are known. But the most demoralizing part, which makes one worried and sick, is that the measures needed are know

LEGASOV’S SUICIDE

DATE OF DEATH : 27 April 1988

CAUSED OF DEATH : Suicide by hanging

LOCATION : Moscow, Soviet Union

BURIAL SITE : Novodevichy Cemeter, Moscow

Valery Legasov’s death occurred on April 26, 1988, exactly two years after the Chernobyl disaster and one day before he was due to release the outcomes of the investigation of the causes of the disaster. The official cause of death was suicide by hanging and was found dead in his apartment in Moscow.

It is widely believed that Legasov’s decision to end his life was influenced by a combination of personal and professional factors. The immense emotional toll of dealing with the Chernobyl disaster, along with the frustration of not being able to fully address the systemic issues and safety concerns, likely contributed to his state of mind.

Legasov’s attempts to raise concerns about the design flaws and safety shortcomings of RBMK reactors were met with resistance and silenced from the Soviet authorities may have added to his feelings of helplessness and despair. As a result, he lost hope in his own government and his work once he was deeply committed to it.

The apartment in Moscow where Legasov hanged himself in the stairway

- Boris Shcherbina on Legasov’s suicide and death

VALERY LEGASOV’S LEGACY

Contribution to the Chernobyl investigation :

As the deputy director of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy and a key member of the Chernobyl Commission, Legasov played a crucial role in investigating the causes of the Chernobyl disaster. His scientific expertise and insights helped in understanding the technical failures that led to the accident.

Advocate for safety improvements:

Legasov was vocal about the need for safety improvements in the nuclear industry. He emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and international cooperation in preventing future disasters. His efforts contributed to the development of stricter safety standards and protocols. After his death, the soviet authorities publicly admitted that there were faulty designs in their RMBK reactor.

The Legasov Tapes :

Legasov’s audio recordings, made from the start of the disaster and to the trial, shed light on the gravity of the disaster and the systemic issues that contributed to it. These recordings were eventually made public, raising awareness about the dangers of nuclear accidents and the need for responsible handling of nuclear technology. It remains one of the most popular audio recordings by scientist and historians alike as it covers full details of the disaster.

Symbol of scientific integrity and moral courage:

His unwavering commitment to truth and his willingness to speak out against the failures of the Soviet system knowing the dire consequences have inspired many, he risked his own safety and reputation to ensure that the lessons learned from Chernobyl would not be forgotten. highlighting the importance of ethics and accountability in scientific and governmental institutions around the world.

“Valery was too great, I loved him more than all the people I knew, he gave all of himself to work, to Chernobyl. He burnt out.”