- Sputnik International
Multimedia
When a picture is worth a thousand words. See what's happening in the world from a more visual perspective with Sputnik's photo galleries, infographics and other multimedia content.

Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster

Subscribe
April 26 marks 24 years since the major nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

April 26 marks 24 years since the major nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankApril 26 marks 24 years since the major nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: To eliminate the damage of the disaster, rescuers used helicopters to measure the level of radiation contamination and deactivating the area.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
1/14
April 26 marks 24 years since the major nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: To eliminate the damage of the disaster, rescuers used helicopters to measure the level of radiation contamination and deactivating the area.
© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankOn April 26 at 1:23 a.m., a reactor was scheduled to be shut down for maintenance lasting for 20 seconds. Photo: April 26, 1986. The collapse of the wall of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
2/14
On April 26 at 1:23 a.m., a reactor was scheduled to be shut down for maintenance lasting for 20 seconds. Photo: April 26, 1986. The collapse of the wall of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabank…however several seconds after a large surge occurred at Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a chemical explosion went off… Photo: A group of specialists prepares to enter the roof of the reactor after the disaster.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
3/14
…however several seconds after a large surge occurred at Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, a chemical explosion went off… Photo: A group of specialists prepares to enter the roof of the reactor after the disaster.
© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankRadiation specialists in helicopters create a map of radiation levels at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
4/14
Radiation specialists in helicopters create a map of radiation levels at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankDeactivation works continue in decreasing the levels of radiation contamination within a 30-kilometer zone after the Chernobyl disaster.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
5/14
Deactivation works continue in decreasing the levels of radiation contamination within a 30-kilometer zone after the Chernobyl disaster.
© RIA Novosti . Boris Prikhodko / Go to the mediabank134 employees at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and members of rescue groups, who were at the plant during the explosion, started suffering from radiation sickness and 28 of them died. Photo: June 1, 1986. A group of specialists heads to the Chernobyl disaster zone to clean up the damage from the April 26 catastrophe.


Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
6/14
134 employees at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and members of rescue groups, who were at the plant during the explosion, started suffering from radiation sickness and 28 of them died. Photo: June 1, 1986. A group of specialists heads to the Chernobyl disaster zone to clean up the damage from the April 26 catastrophe.


© RIA Novosti . Igor Kostin / Go to the mediabankAugust 29, 1986. After the Chernobyl disaster, the reactor was sealed and a powerful protective shield was installed under it.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
7/14
August 29, 1986. After the Chernobyl disaster, the reactor was sealed and a powerful protective shield was installed under it.
© pripyat.comAs result of the disaster, a territory of 160,000 square kilometers was contaminated. Among the most affected areas were northern Ukraine, western Russia and Belarus. In December 2000, the power plant was shut down.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
8/14
As result of the disaster, a territory of 160,000 square kilometers was contaminated. Among the most affected areas were northern Ukraine, western Russia and Belarus. In December 2000, the power plant was shut down.
© pripyat.comWhile foreign mass media spoke of a threat to human lives, and the TV screens showed the map of air currents to Central and Eastern Europe, people in Kiev and other cities in Ukraine and Belarus, who were unaware of the disaster, took to the streets to celebrate the May 1 holidays. The authorities, who were responsible for concealing the information, explained this decision by the need to prevent panic among the population.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
9/14
While foreign mass media spoke of a threat to human lives, and the TV screens showed the map of air currents to Central and Eastern Europe, people in Kiev and other cities in Ukraine and Belarus, who were unaware of the disaster, took to the streets to celebrate the May 1 holidays. The authorities, who were responsible for concealing the information, explained this decision by the need to prevent panic among the population.
© pripyat.comPeople were asked to prepare for temporary evacuation, to lock their doors and shut down water and gas lines (as after several days they would for sure come back home). But they did not come back in several days or even in several years.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
10/14
People were asked to prepare for temporary evacuation, to lock their doors and shut down water and gas lines (as after several days they would for sure come back home). But they did not come back in several days or even in several years.
© pripyat.comPripyat, the city abandoned following the Chernobyl disaster, is impressive in that while it is certainly dead for people, it is still alive for trees…
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
11/14
Pripyat, the city abandoned following the Chernobyl disaster, is impressive in that while it is certainly dead for people, it is still alive for trees…
© pripyat.com… and animals.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
12/14
… and animals.
© pripyat.comMany legends have grown around Chernobyl. People spoke of rats munching iron rods and the appearance of mutant creatures in the abandoned areas. According to the photo, all of these legends are speculation.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
13/14
Many legends have grown around Chernobyl. People spoke of rats munching iron rods and the appearance of mutant creatures in the abandoned areas. According to the photo, all of these legends are speculation.
© pripyat.comThe town of Pripyat after the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Speculation and legends about Chernobyl: 24 years since the nuclear disaster - Sputnik International
14/14
The town of Pripyat after the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала