Ablaze: The Story of the Heroes and Victims of Chernobyl
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Leipinski, 4
Lelechenko, Alexander, 107–8, 112, 119, 192–94; dies, 194
Lelechenko, Lubov, 117–18, 146, 149, 192–94
Lelechenko, Ylena, 194
Leonenko, Vitali, 110
leucosis, 155
leukemia, 155, 395
Ligachev, Yegor, 68, 151, 172–73, 226–27; attack against glasnost, 329, 345–46; campaign against alcoholism, 228–29; retires from politics, 427; and secrecy about accident, 230, 241–42; liquidation procedures, 276–96; attempts to precipitate rainfall, 282; cost of, 299; fragment of fuel found, 289; government commission in charge, 286–87; ground sprayed with plastic solution, 282; precautions and regulations, 295–96; problems: fire from the ruins, 285, radiation levels during, 284; removal of radioactive graphite and lumps of fuel, 277–78; sarcophagus built to entomb radioactive core, 276–77, 284–88; temperature of the core, 277, 284; thermocouple to monitor reactor, 283–84; turbine test equipment retrieved, 287
liquidators: deaths and illnesses of, 280, 349–50, 410, 441–42; humour of personnel, 292–93; living conditions of, 293; medical records classified, 351; numbers needing medical attention, 384; various ailments affecting, 350, 417–18
liquid sodium coolant, 18
Literary Institute, Moscow, 371
literature in Soviet Union, 330–31
Literaturnaya Gazeta, 229, 236
Literaturnaya Ukraina: protests about construction of another nuclear power station, 349, 366–67; takes critical look at Chernobyl, 68–69, 70–73
Lithuania, 363–64, 389
Litovsky, Katya, 52, 147–48, 294, 431
Lopatuk, V. I., 108, 192
Lukin, Vladimir, 350
Lupandin, Dr Vladimir, 400, 401, 413–14
Luzganova, Klavdia, 222–23
Lyutov, Mikhail, 58, 106
Makukhin, Aleksei, 35
Malkevich, Gen., 290
Malomuzh, 332
Marin, Vladimir, 125, 133, 382
Marples, David, xxii
Marsham, Dr Thomas, 233
Maslyukov, Yuri, 286
Mathé, Prof. Georges, 202
Matuchin, Vladimir, 390, 391
Maximov, Gen., 123
Mayak, 6; accident, 13–14; design of reactor, 7–8; new reactor at, 18–19
May Day celebration, 158–59, 169–70
Mayorets, Anatoli, 125; assures reconstruction of fourth reactor, 173; liquidation procedures, 285–86; refuses shutdown of first and second reactors, 132; reprimanded, 270; tells Ryzhkov of accident, 130
meat, 322, 323
‘median acute lethal dose’, xxix
medical aspects of the disaster: complaints of inadequate care, 386; conference in Kiev (1988), 317; crisis blamed on classification of data, 382; deaths and illnesses, 349–50; medical records classified, 351; medical treatment of casualties, 189–90; bone marrow transplants, 191; criteria of medical care, 251; see also casualties; fatalities
Medvedev, Grigori, xviii, 73–74
Medvedev, Vadim, 366
Medvedev, Zhores, xviii, 436
Melnik, Nikolai, 283–84
meltdown: danger of at Chernobyl, 86; in No. 1 unit at Leningrad, 53
Meshkov, Alexander, 125, 270–71
Metlenko, Gennady, 76, 82, 289, 304
Mettler, Prof. F., 417
milk contamination, 321, 373
millisieverts (Mv), xxviii
Ministry for Chernobyl, 397
Ministry of Atomic Power, 329
Ministry of Chemical Production, 238
Ministry of Energy and Electrification: blamed for accident, 254–55, 270; commission and operation of nuclear power stations, 35; investigates causes of accident, 253–56; SPC certificate for fourth reactor, 65
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 210, 239
Ministry of Medium Machine Building, 122; backs nuclear power development, 11; blamed for accident, 255; blanket of secrecy and misinformation, 228; formed, 5; investigates causes of accident, 253–56; monopoly ended, 35; report to conference in Vienna, 260; resources for reactor at Mayak, 8
Ministry of the Interior, 253
Minsk, 367, 385; power station converted to fossil fuel, 388
Mitinko cemetery, 223
Molodaya Gvardiya, 330
Molod Ukrainy, 375
molybdenum, 190
moral degradation of citizens, 400–1
Morhun, Fedir, 349
Moscow News, 343, 371, 376
mutational defects, 356–57
Nagaevsky, Maj. Georgi, 178–81
Narodici, 173; alcoholism in, 401; appalling conditions in, 400–3; disease and infant mortality in, 375; resettling of people from, 400
Nature, 272, 355–56, 358
Nauman, Prof., 417
Nazarov, Prof. Anatoli, 436–37
Nakhaev, Alexander, 105
Nemirovsky, Alexander, 180; health of, five years after accident, 439
Nesterov, Vladimir, 289
neutron shield, 19
Nikitin, Ivan, 212
NIKYET, 17, 134; investigates causes of accident, 253–56; liquidation procedures, 287; plans for reactor at Chernobyl, 38; report to conference in Vienna, 260
nitrogen, 185
Nivetskoye, 297
NKVD (secret police), 4
Novosti Press Agency, 255
Novovoronezh, 11
Novozybkov, 410
Novy Mir, 330, 343
nuclear bomb development, 3–9
Nuclear Energy Agency, 178
nuclear fission, power from, 9–11
nuclear power: attitude after Chernobyl, xix; campaign against, 388–89; expansion of, 27–28; experimental station built (1949), 10; Kurchatov argues to rescind resolutions against, 13; problems and difficulties, 17–18
nuclear power stations: at Kolski, 18; closed in Armenia and Azerbaijan, 367; plans for further ones abandoned, 367–68; problems at, 27; rapid expansion of, 27–28; Soviet ascendancy in the field (1983), 65; three at Chernobyl decommissioned, 368; see also accidents; Chernobyl nuclear power station
nuclear reactors: attempts made to bring first three back on line, 298; coolants, 18; deficiencies in design, 260, 315; fast-breeder, 18; in Iraq, bombing of, 28; placed under authority of Ministry of Atomic Power, 329; pressurized-water (VVER), 12, 18; RBMK-1000, 18–20; safeguards, 18–19; safety of, assured, 228, 240, 260
Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, 454–55
Nuclear Safety Committee, 43
nuclear submarines, 43–44
nuclear war, 154–55
Nuclear War: The Medical and Biological Consequences: Soviet Physicians’ Viewpoint, 155
nuclear waste disposal, 26
nutrition, 390
Obninsk, 11, 20
October Revolution collective, 386
Odinets, Mikhail, 242–43
Oganov, Marshal, 183, 288
Ogonyok, 330
Ogulov, 85–86
Opachichi, 297
Orlov, Alexander, 105, 205, 208
Orthodox Christianity, return to, 429–30
Palamarchuk, Piotr, 76, 82, 85; bone-marrow regenerates, 224; carries Sashenok out of station, 112; injuries, 224; surveys the damage, 93–94
Palamarchuk, Tatiana, 149, 222
panic, 238, 249
Parashin, 306
Pellerin, Prof. Francis, 383
Perevozchenko, Valeri, 82–90, 95, 222
personnel at Chernobyl: blamed for accident, 253–54, 260, 268, 434
Petrosyants, Andranik, 212, 333
Petrovsky collective, 375
Pikalov, Maj. Gen., 125, 139, 277; gives grave assessment of situation, 173; health of, five years after accident, 440; orders specialized equipment to Chernobyl, 134; reports on radiation levels, 151–52; report to conference in Vienna, 260; surveys reacator in EMR2, 138; turbine test equipment retrieved, 289
Pioneer camp, 161, 168, 292
plant resistance to disese, 354
Plochy, Taras, 43,
52, 60, 63, 184; blamed for second fire in ruins, 289
Plotonov, Vladimir, 389
plutonium 239: ground contamination by, 152, 173; half-life of, xxviii; produced at Mayak, 8; retained by particular organs, 190
Poland, 233
Polessia region, 36
Polesskoe, 174, 373; alcoholism in, 401; anxieties of people there, 411; conditions in, 400–3; resettling of people from, 400
Politburo: Brukhanov is dismissed from party, 268; commission meets in Moscow on 1 May, 171; forms second commission, 152; Gorbachev calls meeting on 28 April, 230; informed of cause of accident, 167; liberals dominant, 331; recommendations to protect people, 250–51; scientists allegiance to, 391; sentences those held responsible, 270–71; struggle over glasnost, 329
pollution: air, 420; atmosphere, water table and rivers, 184; chemical, pesticide and fertilizer, 398
Poloshkin, Nikolai, 125, 128, 133
Popov, Georgi, 209, 222
Popular Front, 364
‘positive void coefficient’, 20
Potsdam, 5
Pozdyshev, Erik, 268
Poznyak, Zyanon, 387
Pravda, 235; publishes Legasov’s memoirs, 348; publishes ‘Principles of Perestroika’, 346
Pravda Ukrainy, 375
Pravik, Lt, 98; dies on 10 May, 208; heroism of, 203; taken to hospital, 111
press conference on 6 May, 210–12
pressurized-water reactors (VVER), 18
Pripyat: corruption in, 72–73; description of the town, 47; evacuation, 135, 145–49; May Day festival, 77; people continue normal activities, 119–21; radiation levels in, 136–37
Pripyat River, 36; new bridge built, 281–82; threat of contamination, 281
propaganda, 237
Proskuriakov, Victor, 81, 82
protests, 348–49, 364, 367
Protzenko, Nikolai, 22, 341
Prushinsky, Boris, 133
psychological factors, 408
Pug, Boris, 447
radiation, xxvii–xxix; 32-rem control limit supported, 389; antidotes to: alcohol, 114–15, folk medicines, 115; damage to human health, xxix; dose, margin of safety, 252; dosimeter readings, 94, 100; effects on plant resistance to disease, 354; emissions from casualties, 195; exposure of population, statistics on, 316; five types of ionizing, xxvii; forms of cancers from acute doses of, 155; genetic defects and mutations, 356–59; latent period between exposure and onset of radiation-induced diseases, xxix; levels, established norms, 136; limit for a year’s dose, 317; no plans for mass protection against, 159–60; ‘safe’ dose reduced to seven rems, 396; units of measure, xxviii–xxix; see also radiation sickness
radiation sickness: firemen and operators show symptoms of, 101; health consequences of, 207; symptoms of, 204–5; treatment for, 15
radioactive contamination, 135; affected regions of Russia, 316; at Fosmark, 149–50; in the food chain, 319–23; norms for acceptable levels: in food, 319, in ground, 318–19, 407; outside the 30km zone, 173, 251, 316; still present in 1989, 373–74; of wood, 320
radioactive waste: accident at Mayak, 13–14
radioactivity: decay, xxvii–xxviii; levels, in Kiev on 29 April, 157
Radio Liberty, Munich, 233, 245
radionuclides, amounts: on 27–30 April, 163; on 5 May, 182; suddenly drop on 6 May, 186; in Ukraine, Russia and Belorussia, 381; ingestion and inhalation of, xxviii; retained by particular organs, 189
‘radiophobia’, 350, 353, 383
radon, 417
rad (radiation absorbed dose), xxviii
Radyanska Ukraina, 376
Raguda, 429
Ramzayev, Prof. P. V., 390, 391, 414–15
RBMK-1000 reactors, 20, 35, 38; fail to meet safety requirements, 308; faulty design of, 20, 307–8, 310, 432; no charges brought against designers, 432; instability at low power, 54
reactivity surge, 65
Reagan, Ronald, 228
Reichtman, 287
Reisner, Gail, 219
Reisner, Yair, 153, 210
religion, widespread return to, 429–31
relocation criteria, 414
rem (roentgen equivalent man), xxviii–xxix
Report on the USSR, xxii
reproductive organs, 351
‘Resolutions of the 27th CPSU Congress Being Put into Action. It is No Private Matter’, 73
Revenko, Grigori, 101, 172, 384
Reykunkov, Alexander, 254, 297
Riabev, L. D., 329
roentgen, xxviii
Roentgen Institute, Kiev, 15
Rogozhkin, Boris, 76, 82, 90, 99; arrest and trial, 300–11; back to work at Chernobyl, 449
Romanenko, Anatoli, 160; accused of delay in alerting Kiev, 383; advice to citizens of Kiev, 246, 251; at meeting in Kiev (1988), 316; mobilizes health service of Ukraine, 250; removed as minister of health, 391; resigns from party, 384; visit to Chernobyl, 60
Romanov, Grigori, 226
Rosen, Morris, 257–59; inspects ruined reactor, 239, 408
Rotec Corporation, 285
RUKH, 384, 413–14
Russia, uninhabitable parts of, xvii
ruthenium, 190
Rutskoi, 447
Ryzantzev, Prof. Eugene, 125–28, 171; flights over reactor, 282–83; report to conference in Vienna, 260
Ryzhkov, Nikolai, 68, 328; commission meets in Moscow on 1 May, 171; defends handling of accident, 378–80, 381; flies to Chernobyl, 172; forms commission of inquiry, 131; heads second commission, 151; loses to Yeltsin in election, 425–26; orders Chernobyl and all villages to be evacuated, 175; retires from politics, 427; told of accident at Chernobyl, 130
‘sacred law of brotherhood’, 244
safeguards, 18–19; lack of, in RBMK-type reactors, 152–53
safety: assured by Fomin, 61; breach of regulations, 254; concerns are rejected, 27–28; of nuclear power, world loses faith in, 25; of Soviet reactors assured, 240–41; of other reactors, public alarm about, 348–49
Sajudis movement, 364
sand: bombing of reactors, 137, 162, 167; bombing criticized, 175–76
Sarcophagus, 265–66, 330
sarcophagus, 275–76, 285–87, 296; Complex Expedition investigates conditions within in 1989, 442–44
Savchenko, Nikolai, 386
Scherbina, Boris, 110, 131–32; at press conference on 6 May, 210–12, 239–40, 257; classifies information about contamination, 379–80; decides to extinguish fire with sand, 142; dies (1989), 441; heads commission of inquiry, 131, 252; liquidation procedures, 286, 298; looks at reactor, 137–38; orders evacuation to proceed, 145; presents report to Politburo, 267; reports of destruction from experts, 133–36
Scherbitsky, 67
Schmemann, Serge, 234, 235
Scientific Research Institute of Technical Energy Construction, see NIKYET
secrecy: all nuclear accidents state secrets, 100; blanket of secrecy and misinformation, 228; see also cover-up; information
Sedunov, Y. S., 210, 240
Serebryakov, Col, 143–44
Seredovkin, Georgi, 115, 121–22, 188–89
Serotkin, Anatoli, 168
Shadrin, Yuri, 301–3, 306
Shandala, Mikhail, 391
Shasharin, Gennady, 133, 178; blame for accident, 270; looks at reactor, 137–38
Shashenok, Vladimir: dies, 114, 192, 214; found barely alive, 94–95; taken to hospital, 111
Shatalov, Dimitry, 286
Shavrey, Ivan, 97–98, 115; health of, five years after accident, 439
Shavrey, Leonid, 49, 98
Shchadov, Mikhail, minister of coal, 184
Shcherbak, Yuri, xxii, xxviii, 366; confers with Legasov, 344–45; discussion of coverup, 381–82; feelings of guilt, 393–94; founds Zelenij Svit, 367; minister of environment, 450; writes book about accident, 332–33
Shcherbitsky, Vladimir, 72–73, 159, 169–72, 250
Shepin, Oleg, 187, 212, 250–51
Sherbak, Gen., 289
Shevchenko, Taras,
369, 395
Shevchenko, Valentina, 169, 251, 378–79
Shevchenko, Vladimir, 442
Shigematsu, I., 409
Shovkovshytny, Volodomyr, 370–72, 394–96
Shulzhenko, 187, 327
Shushkievicz, Stanislas, 288, 385, 450
Sidorenko, 255
sievert (Sv), xxviii
Silayev, Ivan, 129, 178, 276–77, 447; liquidation procedures, 283–86
Sitnikov, Anatoli, 59, 62, 105; discusses accident 115, 206; views destruction, 107
Sitnikov, Elvira, 205
Sivintsev, Yuri, 235, 325, 347; report to conference in Vienna, 260
Skala computer, 83, 84
Sklar, Sergei, 169–70
Sklerov, Vitali, 101
Slavsky, Efim, 4, 35, 126, 184, 255, 329, 447
Slavutich, 297, 396, 432
Slyunkov, 67, 386
Smagin, Victor, 106, 206
Smyshlyaev, 269
Socialist system, 427
Sokolov, Marshal, 123
Sokolov, Oleg, 199
Soroka, O. V., 254
Sovetskaya Rossiya, 346
Soviet Ministry of Health, 315
spent fuel processing, 26
Spizhenko, Yuri, 383–84
stable iodine: administered too late, 316–17; given to helicopter pilots, 162; inadequate supplies of, 161, 257; retained by particular organs, 190; 218 tons estimate needed, 238
Stalin, Joseph, 5; decides to develop nuclear bomb, 3; dies, 10; legacy of, 391
Star Called Wormwood, The, 264, 332, 368
‘star wars’, 228–29
State Commission for Radiation Safety, 389, 390
State Committee for Safety in the Atomic Power Industry, xxiv; blame for accident, 255, 270; and regulations for nuclear safety, 54
State Committee of Atomic Energy, 133; investigates causes of accident, 253–56
State Committee of Hydrometeorology, 152, 377; attempts to precipitate rainfall, 282; criteria of medical care, 250
Steinberg, Nikolai, 50, 52, 63; arrives to help with emergency, 184–85; gives evidence at trial, 308–10; learns of Akimov’s death, 293; liquidation procedures, 286–88; moves to Balakovsky, 61; report on true causes of accident (May 1991), 433–34; resigns from communist party, 432; returns to work at Chernobyl, 431; sense of humour, 294–95