Valery legasov biography book 01

A comprehensive overview of Valery Legasov’s early life and career of his background, inclduing details about his birth, family, his career and his ambition pursuits

Role in the Chernobyl Disaster

Provides detailed insights into the background of the Chernobyl incident, setting the context for Legasov’s involvement. It also examines the measures taken by Legasov to address the immediate and long-term impacts of the Chernobyl disaster, both in terms of environmental and human safety.

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Highlights Legasov’s initial observations and assessments upon arriving in Chernobyl, including the severity of the radiation levels and the extent of the damage.

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Arrival on Chernobyl Evacuation of Pripyat

Highlights Legasov’s team efforts in coordinating and implementing the evacuation plan, ensuring the orderly and timely evacuation of the population from Pripyat. The page also discusses the challenges faced during the evacuation process, such as communication difficulties and logistical issues.

The unstable condition of the bubbler pools, including the risk of an explosion and the release of radioactive materials. It delves into Valery Legasov’s efforts to devise a strategy to mitigate the threat and prevent a catastrophic event.

Provides insights into the immense task of cleaning up and containing the radioactive debris left in the aftermath of the disaster and the introduction of the Chernobyl Liquidators

Highlights Legasov’s involvement in overseeing the construction of the sarcophagus, a massive structure designed to enclose the damaged reactor

Reports on health implications and toll experienced by Valery Legasov following the Chernobyl disaster. It delves into the physical and psychological impact of the immediate and longterm health effects he suffered as a result of his involvement in managing the aftermath of the nuclear accident.

Academician Anatoly Alexandrov, President of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, speaking about Legasov’s scientific achievements and character.

He was a brilliant scientist, one of the leading specialists in the field of nuclear energy, and a man of great integrity and moral courage.

OVERVIEW:

A prominent Soviet chemist and expert in nuclear science. He is best known for his role in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. Legasov played a significant part in the government commission formed to investigate and manage the disaster, providing critical technical expertise and leadership.

Biography

FULL NAME: Valery Alekseyevich Legasov

DATE OF BIRTH: September 1 , 1936

PLACE OF BIRTH: Tula, Soviet Union

DATE OF DEATH: April 27 , 1988 (aged 51)

PLACE OF DEATH : Moscow, Soviet Union

SPOUSE: Margarita Legasova

CHILDREN: Inga Legasova

EDUCATION: Moscow D. Mendeleev Institute of Chemical Technology

PROFESSION: Soviet Inorganic Chemist

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

Efforts to contain the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

AWARDS: Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of the October Revolution

POSITIONS:

Deputy Director of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy,

Chief Scientific Supervisor of the chernobyl disaster government commission,

Head of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry at the Mendeleev Moscow Chemical Engineering Institute

CHAPTER 01

EARLY LIFE AND CAREER

After graduating 1961 from Mendeleev, Legasov worked as a secretary in the Moscow Institute of Chemical Technology until 1962 when he joined the department of Molecular Physics of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy to do a Phd for chemistry.

Early Life

Legasov was born in a small town of ‘Tula’ in Soviet Russia on September 1, 1936. During his early years of childhood, he was an excellent student and a born leader, excelled in both academic work and social activities being elected secretary of his school’s Komsomol committee and later elected as a bureau of the soviet district committee of the komsomol and to the Moscow city’s komsomol committee. He graduated with a gold medal from school No.56 in Moscow.

He later studied at the Faculty of Physicochemical Engineering at the Mendeleev Moscow Institute of Chemistry and Technology in 1961 where he learned how nuclear fuel is processed, handled and disposed of.

His career there thrived from then on, even adapting and fully cooperating with the regime’s standards. By 1972, he was awarded with a doctorate degree in chemistry. He later joined the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, the youngest member to ever join there and worked as a professor at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1983. From there, Legasov built his name as one of the most prominent scientists in the field of inorganic chemistry most notably for the BartlettLegasov effect, Valery received numerous state awards.

Legasov married Margarita Mikhailovna and they had two children, Inga Legasova and Aleksey Valeryevich Legasov. In his personal life, he composed poetry and encouraged its publication. He often visited the theater with his wife, having a love of reading Russian and foreign literature, particularly the works of Yuri Bondarev. He frequently made excursions with his wife and children by car and saw many parts of the country while on trips to other regions

VALERY LEGASOV’S CAREER MILESTONE

1962

He joined the graduate school in the Department of Molecular Physics of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy,  first as a junior and senior researcher, and finally as head of the laboratory.

1972

He was awarded with a doctorate degree in chemistry.

1976

Elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union

1981

Became a full member of the Academy Of Sciences Of USSR in the Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Inorganic Materials.

1986

Became a key member of the government commission formed to investigate ‘The Chernobyl Disaster”

1961

Legasov worked as an engineer at the Siberian Chemical Combine in the city of Tomsk-7, as a shift supervisor. He took this role in order to gain practical experience that would be the basis for later research into chemical studies.

1967

He defended his thesis at the Kurchatov Institute, on the synthesis of compounds of noble gases and the study of their properties. Due to this He received the degree of Candidate in 1967

1978

Became a professor at the Moscow Institute Of Physics And Technology

1983

Became the first deputy director for scientific work of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy.

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CHAPTER 02

ROLE IN THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER

Valery Alekseyevich Legasov’s role in the government commission handling the Chernobyl disaster would forever be etched in history. His dedication to truth, scientific integrity, and the welfare of the people stood as a testament to the power of knowledge in times of crisis.

In the years that followed, Valery’s legacy would extend beyond the confines of the commission room. His contributions to nuclear safety and the lessons learned from Chernobyl would resonate globally, shaping international policies and safety regulations for nuclear energy.

Water resevoir for coolant

Reactor 4 wreck site

Reactor 4 wreck site

From then on, Valery and the commission worked tirelessly, analyzing data, evaluating risks, and formulating plans to contain the catastrophe. They made difficult decisions, knowing that each choice could have far-reaching consequences for both the immediate victims and generations to come and themsleves

When the world would come to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of those who faced the Chernobyl disaster headon. Among them, Valery Legasov stood tall as a symbol of courage and unwavering commitment to humanity on one of the worst nuclear catastrophes in history.

Reactor 4 control building

THE START OF THE INCIDENT

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster began early in the early hours of Saturday 26 April 1986 within the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Western USSR and Europe.

The disaster began during a systems test at reactor number four of the Chernobyl plant. There was a sudden surge of power output, and when an emergency shutdown was attempted a more extreme spike in power output occurred, which led a reactor vessel to rupture and a series of explosions. These events exposed the graphite moderator of the reactor to air, causing it to ignite.

The resulting fire sent a plume of highly radioactive smoke into the atmosphere and went on to drift over large parts of the western Soviet Union and Europe. According to official post-Soviet data about 60% of the radioactive fallout landed in Belarus.

Legasov was called in almost immediately to lead the investigation due to his expertise in radiochemistry. He was also chosen due to his statement that pointed to the problems of the RBMK-1000 reactors and the risks of operating such nuclear reactors, And thus he was put in charge to investigate the disaster and develop measures to control the spread of radiation.

The wreckage of the exploded Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor 04

The Chernobyl Disaster Goverment Commision

The government commission formed in response to the Chernobyl disaster was an official body established by the Soviet goverment to

investigate and manage the aftermath of the nuclear accident that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant occured on April 26, 1986.

Served as the chief scientific supervisor of the commission and played a crucial role in analyzing the disaster’s causes and proposing measures to mitigate its consequences.

The chief engineer of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant He provided valuable insights into the events of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant leading up to the explosion.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union who played a significant role in overseeing the response efforts.

The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union and was appointed to head the government commission responsible for managing the disaster aftermath.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union who played a significant role in overseeing the response efforts.

While he was not a member of the commission directly, he was the leader of the Soveit Unionand he played a major role in overseeing the handling of the disaster and its aftermath.

Valery Legasov

Boris Shcherbina

Nikolai Ryzhkov

Vitaly Sklyarov

Nikolai Ryzhkov

Mikhail Gorbachev

ARRIVAL ON CHERNOBYL

When Legasov arrived at chernobyl, the true dangers of the meltdown were unknown to everyone. But only Legasov was aware of the actual threat of the radiation emitted from the reactor as soon he saw a foreboding red glow in the night sky six miles from the plant.

Legasov knew that the Chernobyl disaster was unprecedented in its severity and complexity and was well aware of the dangers of ionizing radiation and the potential long-term impacts on human health and the environment. He was also the very first person being aware that the reactor core had exploded, and the remains of the reactor were emitting intense radiation, making it extremely dangerous for anyone to be in close proximity to the site.

Hence, his immediate focus on understanding the causes of the explosion, assessing the extent of the damage, and proposing strategies to limit the spread of radiation and mitigate the disaster’s consequences. He worked tirelessly with other members of the commission, scientists, and responders to address the unprecedented challenges posed by the Chernobyl disaster.

Legasov was already fearful for his life expentacy and the potential dangers of millions more as he is aware of the severe health risks associated with exposure to high levels of radiation. Even before his commision team send pesonel to detect the actual levels amount of radiation, he already knew that most personel, including himself would be expected to die within a few months to a few years.

RECORDED

STATEMENT FROM THE LEGASOV TAPES

DATE: May 11, 1986

PART: #001

TAPE VARIANT: The Legasov Tapes (Tape 1 Side A)

RECORDED BY: Valery Legasov

SUBJECT:

Legasov describing his experience arriving on Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster site for the first time

STATEMENT:

“ When we were just nearing Pripyat, about 8-10 kilometers from it, I was struck by the appearance of the sky. It was like mulberry, or even crimson maybe, glowing above the station, which made it absolutely unlike how it should be in a nuclear power station. It is known that nuclear power stations are very clean and accurate, with all their facilities and pipes which usually don’t output anything visible into the air. And a nuclear station for a specialist is usually an object that doesn’t produce any gases. This is its distinctive feature, if we exclude some specific facilities. But this one looked like a metallurgical factory or a giant chemistry plant with a huge crimson glow over half of the visible sky. This was very disturbing and made the situation very unusual. ”

SOVIET PERMISSION LEVEL:

PERMISSION ONLY

ADDITIONAL INFO:

SIGNATURE:

CONTAINMENT AND EVACUATION

DATE : 27 April 1986 (Sunday)

TIME PERIOD : 07.00 AM - 10.00AM

SUBJECT : Radiation reading / extinguishing fire of Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor 04

When General Pikalov sets out in a truck fitted out with radiation apparatus to measure the radiation. He establishes that the graphite in the reactor is burning and that an enormous amount of radiation and heat is being given off at 15,000 rotengen every hour, nearly twice the radiation of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, it is capable of contaminating not just Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, but the entire European continent.

Task On Extinguishing the fire on Reactor 04

The final reading was enough to put immediate priority for Legasov was to extinguish fires on the roof of the station and the area around the building containing Reactor No. 4 to protect Reactor No. 3 and keep its core cooling systems intact. The fires were extinguished by 5:00, but many firefighters received high doses of radiation. The fire inside reactor No. 4 continued to burn until 10 May 1986; it is possible that well over half of the graphite burned out.

Some of that the core fire was extinguished by a combined effort of helicopters dropping more than 5,000 tonnes (11 million pounds) of sand, lead, clay, and neutron absorbing boron onto the burning reactor. Historians estimate that about 600 Soviet pilots risked dangerous levels of radiation to fly the thousands of flights needed to cover reactor No. 4 in this attempt to seal off the radiation.

Helicopters dropping sand, lead, clay, and neutron absorbing boron onto the fire burning on Reactor 04

Vladimir Pikalov was a Soviet general who was in charge of the specialised military units at the site of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster.

Pikalov personally made a detour around the nuclear power plant with radiation measurements instead of a team as he did not want to lose any of his soldiers lives after Legasov warned him about the extreme dangers of the mission

Actual radiation levels on Chernobyl Nuclear Plant

DATE : 27 April 1986 (Sunday)

TIME PERIOD : 07.00 AM - 10.00AM

MANAGED BY: Vladimir Pikalov

The ionizing radiation levels in the worst hit areas of the reactor building have been estimated to be 5.6 roentgens per second (R/s), equivalent to more than 20,000 roentgens per hour. A lethal dose is around 500 roentgens (~5 Gray (Gy) in modern radiation units) over five hours, so in some areas, unprotected workers received fatal doses in less than a minute. However, a dosimeter capable of measuring up to 1,000 R/s was buried in the rubble of a collapsed part of the building, and another one failed when turned on. Most remaining dosimeters had limits of 0.001 R/s and therefore read “off scale”. Thus, the reactor crew could ascertain only that the radiation levels were somewhere above 0.001 R/s (3.6 R/h), while the true levels were much higher in some areas.

The population of Pripyat are evacuated

PHASE 2 : EVACUATION OF PRIPYAT

DATE : 27 April 1986 (Sunday)

TIME PERIOD : 14.00 PM - 17.30PM

MANAGED BY : Soviet military and civil defence units

AUTHORISE BY : Boris Scherbina and Valery Legasov

LOCATION : Pripyat, Post Soviet Union Ukraine

After discovering the actual threat of meltdown as it was releasing trenmendous amounts of radiation every hour. Legasov immediately convinced the chairman of his government commission, Boris Shcherbina, to evacuate people from Pripyat (which is only 3 km away from the reactor) immediately.

But by that time before the order was given two people had already died and 52 were hospitalized. This delegation soon had ample evidence that the reactor was destroyed and extremely high levels of radiation had caused a number of cases of radiation exposure. Initially it was decided to evacuate the population for three days; but later this was made permanent.

Buses were brought in and 50,000 people were taken out, which saved many lives from risking potential radiation acute syndrome. After that, Legasov and the officials established a 30km Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which is said to be unsafe for human habitation till the day or the next 20,000 years. Residents were given two hours to gather their belongings.

The evacuation of Pripyat’s 43,000 residents took 3.5 hours, using 1,200 buses from Kiev. Residents remember that everyone was in a hurry, but nobody was panicking. The residents of Pripyat were asked to carry with

them only what was required for two or three days, some food, a change of underwear, and their identity papers. Dosimeters are however, confiscated. To expedite the evacuation, residents were told to bring only what was necessary, and that they would remain evacuated for approximately three days. As a result, most personal belongings were left behind, andit stills remain there today.

By 15:00, 53,000 people were evacuated to various villages of the Kiev region. The next day, talks began for evacuating people from the 10-kilometer zone. Ten days after the accident, the evacuation area was expanded to 30 kilometers.  The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Exclusion Zone has remained ever since, although its shape has changed and its size has been expanded. Legasov even said to be unsafe for human habitation till the day or the next 20,000 years.

The surveying and detection of isolated fallout hotspots outside this zone over the following year eventually resulted in 135,000 long-term evacuees in total agreeing to be moved. The years between 1986 and 2000 saw the near tripling in the total number of permanently resettled persons from the most severely contaminated areas to approximately 350,000.

OFFICIAL PRIPYAT EVACUATION ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: May 27, 1986

TAPE VARIANT: Government Announcement

ISSUED BY:

Chernobyl Disaster Government Commision

ASSIST BY: The Chernobyl City Council

TRANSLATED TRANSCRIPT

“

For the attention of the residents of Pripyat! The City Council informs you that due to the accident at Chernobyl Power Station in the city of Pripyat the radioactive conditions in the vicinity are deteriorating. The Communist Party, its officials and the armed forces are taking necessary steps to combat this. Nevertheless, with the view to keep people as safe and healthy as possible, the children being top priority, we need to temporarily evacuate the citizens in the nearest towns of Kiev region. For these reasons, starting from 27 April 1986, 14:00 each apartment block will be able to have a bus at its disposal, supervised by the police and the city officials. It is highly advisable to take your documents, some vital personal belongings and a certain amount of food, just in case, with you. The senior executives of public and industrial facilities of the city has decided on the list of employees needed to stay in Pripyat to maintain these facilities in a good working order. All the houses will be guarded by the police during the evacuation period. Comrades, leaving your residences temporarily please make sure you have turned off the lights, electrical equipment and water and shut the windows. Please keep calm and orderly in the process of this short-term evacuation. ”

RECORDED STATEMENT FROM THE LEGASOV TAPES

DATE: May 11, 1986

PART: #002

TAPE VARIANT: The Legasov Tapes (Tape 1 Side A)

RECORDED BY: Valery Legasov

SUBJECT:

Legasov explaning the process and the events of the Pripyat evacuation

STATEMENT TRANSACRIPT:

“ I must say that all physicists, especially Viktor Alekseevich Sidorenko, felt that the conditions would only change for the worse, and insisted on the mandatory evacuation. And the medics sort of supported this. Around 11 a.m. on the 26th of April, Boris Scherbina, after considering all our recommendations, decided to go ahead with the mandatory evacuation. After that, Ukraine representatives, comrade Plyusch and comrade Nikolaev, started to prepare for the evacuation of the city scheduled for the next day.

This by no means was an easy operation. Transport was needed; it was called from Kiev. Drivable roads had to be scouted to plan routes for the evacuation. General Berdov led this work, and also organized the task of informing the public so that they don’t come out of their houses. Unfortunately this meant that the information was disseminated only verbally - they visited each house, also posted notices. It seemed that not absolutely everyone was fully informed, because mothers with children were seen on the streets on the morning of the 27th.

At 11 a.m., we were officially informed that the whole city would be evacuated by 2 p.m.. All the transport had been gathered; all the routes had been identified; and at around 2-2:30 p.m. the entire city was empty. Except for the station workers, and some workers that were needed to operate public services.

The station personnel was transferred to a Pioneers camp “Skazochniy”, that was 10 km from Pripyat. The evacuation was fast and precise, despite being carried out in unusual conditions.

In such a way, many personal items that people took with them got out of Pripyat and carried the contamination with them. They, however, took a minimal number of items because they were hoping that the evacuation was temporary . However, I will repeat myself that the evacuation had been carried out at such a time when the radiation levels of Pripyat were not that high; It has become clear now that none of the almost 50,000 civilians of Pripyat, that were not at the station after the accident, had received any considerable amount of radiation.”

BUBBLER POOLS

A new deadly threat

Despite the process on cooling the reactor and the evacuation was a success. Legasov and his team soon found himself a new problem, it was discovered that the reactor’s core was still emitting intense heat and due to sand and boron they dropped to put out the fire.

To make matters worse. The smoldering graphite, fuel and other material above they dumped on the reactor fire, started to burn through the reactor floor and mixed with molten concrete from the reactor lining, creating corium, a radioactive semi-liquid material comparable to lava and wasmelting into the flooded basement

Because of rupture cooling water pipes and accumulated firefighting water days prior the if this mixture melted through the floor into the pool of water, the resulting steam production would further contaminate the area or even risk to cause a deadly thermal explosion.

CORIUM

The hardened corium inside the basement pipes of the power plant. It is still emitting high levels of radiation till this day

The most dangerous substance in the world

Corium is a term used to describe a highly radioactive and molten mixture that can form during a severe nuclear reactor accident. It is primarily composed of nuclear fuel, such as uranium or plutonium, along with other materials present in the reactor core. It is an extremely hazardous and corrosive

substance, capable of burning through concrete and metal structures and it is also highly radioactive, emitting various types of ionizing radiation, including gamma radiation, which poses significant health risks such as cancer, acute radiation sickness and shortening the lifespan to humans.

PHASE 3 : DRAINING THE STEAM POOLS

DATE : 2 May, 1986 (Friday)

TIME PERIOD : 10.00am - 18.00pm

MANAGED BY : Chernobyl Disaster Goverment Commision, 3 Volunteers

AUTHORISE BY : Boris Scherbina and Valery Legasov

LOCATION : Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 4 building

Legasov and the commission immediately directed that the bubbler pools be drained by opening its sluice gates located in a flooded corridor in a subterranean annex adjacent to the reactor building.

The entire operation was handled by 3 volunteers, they were he engineers

Alexei Ananenko and Valeri Bezpalov (who knew where the valves were), and the shift supervisor Boris Baranov to locate and open two release valves to drain the water equipped in diving suits and respirators and dosimeters. The mission was completed successfully without complication.

Additional Info: The Chernobyl Trio

The engineers who drained the steam suppression pools at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant were not widely known by their individual names and identities in publicly available information at that time with the Soviet news agency still hiding many of the details of the catastrophe with them had previously been reported that all three had died and been buried in “tightly sealed zinc coffins.” But in reality Alexei and Bespalov are still alive today while Baranov died in 2005 of a heart attack (unrealted to the disaster) In 2018, all three men were awarded the Order For Courage by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. If the three courageous men were not successful in their mission the Chernobyl death toll was likely to reach the millions. The three unsung heroes details are listed below:

Alexei Ananenko

A nuclear engineer at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. He was crucial for the efforts as he is familiar with the basement layout and the location of the pipes.

Valeri Bezpalov

A senior plant mechanical engineer, who knows the location of all the pipe valves are and knows the underground layout of the reactor 4 building.

Boris Baranov

He was a shift supervisor and was capable on good decision making and had vast experience as a team leader and the working field in a Nuclear power plant

Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov & Boris Baranov gearing up to save Europe from nuclear fallout, 10 days after the Chernobyl Nucelar meltdown disaster in 1986

PHASE 4 : DEBRI REMOVAL ON REACTOR 4

DATE : 3 July - 1 August, 1986 (Monday)

TIME PERIOD : 4 to 5 weeks

MANAGED BY : Chernobyl Liquidators

AUTHORISE BY : Boris Scherbina and Valery Legasov

LOCATION : Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 3 & 4 Building Rooftop

In the weeks following the explosion, Legasov later advised the soviet government to build a sarcophagus to cover the reactor and prevent the spread. However, the contaminated debris left by the explosion has to be removed near the reactor to ensure safe space for the construction. Robots were initially intended to be used. Unfortunately, numerous attempts failed because of the challenging terrain and the negative effects of strong radiation fields on their batteries and electronic controls.

Hence Legasov was left with no choice but to employ Chernobyl liquidators from the military to remove them.

Consequently, the most highly radioactive materials were shoveled by Chernobyl liquidators from the military wearing heavy protective gear (dubbed “bio-robots”).

These soldiers could only spend a maximum of 90 seconds working on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings because of the extremely high doses of radiation given off by the blocks of graphite and other debris.

Though the soldiers were only supposed to perform the role of the “bio-robot” a maximum of once,

Though the soldiers were only supposed to perform the role of the “bio-robot” a maximum of once, some soldiers reported having done this task five or six times. Only 10% of the debris cleared from the roof was performed by robots; the other 90% was removed by approximately 5,000 men who absorbed, on average, an estimated dose of 25 rem (250 mSv) of radiation each.

After the cleanup effort, The Soviet Union government was able to initiate the upcoming construction of the sarcophagus. With Legasov advising the initial steps required to build it by giving lead line outfits to the construction workers to be protected from radiation, and crane drivers working from lead-lined control cabins.

CHERNOBYL LIQUIDATORS

The army did not have adequate uniforms adapted for use in radioactive conditions, so those enlisted to carry out work on the roof were obliged to cobble together their own clothing, made from lead sheets and measuring two to four millimeters thick.

Liquidators clear radioactive debris from the roof of the No. 4 reactor, throwing it to the ground where it will later be covered by the sarcophagus.

A team of human liquidators prepares to clear radioactive debris off the roof of the No. 4 reactor.

A liquidator, outfitted with handmade lead shielding on his head, works to clean the roof of reactor No. 3.

PHASE 5 : CONSTRUCTION OF THE SACROPHAGUS

DATE : 20 May - 14 December, 1986 (Friday)

TIME PERIOD : 8 months

MANAGED BY : Liquidators and Military Personnel

AUTHORISE BY : Chernobyl Disaster Goverment Commission

LOCATION : Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor 4 building

After the debris cleanup was completed succesfully . Legasov and his commission can start the construction of the “Sarcophagus”. It had to be erected quickly and within the constraints of high levels of ambient gamma radiation.

The design started on 20 May 1986, 24 days after the disaster, and construction was from June to late November.[88] This major construction project was carried out under the very difficult circumstances of high levels of radiation both from the core remnants and the deposited radioactive contamination around it.

With Legasov advising the commision the initial steps required to build the strcuture. The construction workers

had to be protected from radiation, and techniques such as crane driversworking from lead-lined control cabins were employed.

The construction work included erecting walls around the perimeter, clearing and surface concreting the surrounding ground to remove sources of radiation and to allow access for large construction machinery, constructing a thick radiation shielding wall to protect the workers in reactor No. 3, fabricating a high-rise buttress to strengthen weak parts of the old structure, constructing an overall roof, and provisioning a ventilation extract system to capture any airborne contamination arising within the shelter.

CROSS SECTION LAYOUT OF THE SACROPHAGUS

More than 400,000 m3 of concrete and 7,300 tons of metal framework were used during construction with the building ultimately enclosing 740,000 m3 of heavily contaminated debris and soil inside.

The sarcophagus has over 60 bore holes to allow observation of the interior of the core. In places the structure incorporated ventilation shafts to allow for some convection inside. Filtration systems were put in place to prevent radioactive material escaping through these holes.

The construction process consisted of eight stages:

1.Clearing and concreting the area surrounding reactor unit 4

2.Erection of initial reinforced concrete protective walls around the perimeter

3.Construction of separation walls between units 3 and 4

4.Cascade wall construction

5.Covering of the turbine hall

6.Construction of a high-rise buttress wall

7.Erection of supports and installation of a reactor compartment covering

8.Installation of the ventilation system.

“Here I need to pay tribute to comrade Schekalov, the expert from the Institute of Nuclear Energy, and also to the experts from the Ukrainian (Kiev) Institute of Nuclear Research, who made great efforts to find the appropriate paths, put in the necessary sensors, and stretch cables to them. As for neutron sensors, they were the responsibility of CNIIP [Central Science

Research and Project Institute] of the Ministry of Medium Machine Building. The experts from this institute were led by comrade Zhernov. Generally, one of their tasks was to put various sensors in the 4th block for measuring gamma fields, neutron fields, measuring temperature, measuring airflow, measuring the hydrogen concentration sensors should it suddenly appear

in the system, etc. These sensors were placed in various spots. This was dangerous and hard work because they had to go inside the block every time and search for the most suitable spots that would reliably diagnose the condition of the 4th block. This was one set of tasks. And there were difficult situations. An attempt to pour concrete in an area was unsuccessful because in

there were rather large gaps through which the concrete flowed to the levels below. Methods to hold the concrete in place had to be thought of. Some supports were not strong enough and reinforcement was necessary. This harmonious work of the researchers and the designers, in the end, led to a reliable construction.”

Valery Legasov, recorded from tape 3 side B

TOLL ON LEGASOV’S HEALTH

MEDICAL RECORDS

PERSONAL INFORMATION

FULL NAME : Valery Alekseyevich Legasov

ADDRESS : Pekhotnaya street (400 meters from Kurchatov’s Institute)

AGE: 50

ALLERGIES : None

DOB: SEP 1, 1936

BLOOD TYPE: Classified

MEDICAL CONDITIONS : Acute Radiation Sickness, Radiation poisoning, Increased risk of cancer, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Anxiety.

MEDICAL TREATMENT : Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Psychotherapy

Depression and anxiety : antidepressant medications

Acute Radiation Sickness : anti-nausea medications and intravenous fluids.

Cancer risk mitigation : chemotherapy, radiation therapy, with recommendations of regular monitoring by medical staff and doctor

HOSPITALIZATION

HOSPITAL NAME : Moscow Hospital 6

HOSPITAL ADDRESS : Marshala Timoshenko Ulitsa, 15, Moscow, Soviet Union

DATE OF ADMISSION : Fall of 1987 (exact date not specified)

DURATION OF STAY : Lengthy

PATIENT MEDICAL NOTE

Illness :

The patient was admitted to the hospital with a lengthy stay due to severe radiation poisoning. During his hospitalization, he experienced acute appendicitis, which required immediate medical attention and intervention. Throughout his hospital stay, the patient displayed poor appetite and disrupted sleep patterns, often barely eating or sleeping.

Medical Management :

The patient received comprehensive medical care and treatment during his hospital stay. Interventions were carried out to manage the acute appendicitis, which included surgical intervention as necessary. Additionally, supportive care was provided to address the severe radiation poisoning and its associated symptoms.

Post-Hospitalization :

Following his discharge from the hospital, the patient returned to work. However, despite the medical attention received during his hospitalization, it is noted that the patient’s condition had a profound impact on his overall well-being and mental health.

Mental Health :

The patient’s prolonged exposure to severe radiation, acute appendicitis, and the traumatic experience of hospitalization appeared to have taken a toll on his mental health.

Disposition :

The patient’s case is a poignant reminder of the significant physical and emotional impact of exposure to severe radiation and the importance of addressing mental health concerns in individuals who experience such traumatic events from the Chernobyl Disaster