What is Chernobyl? How did it affect the people of Europe?

What is Chernobyl? How did it affect the people of Europe?

Chernobyl was a Soviet built nuclear power plant that suffered one of the worst disasters in human history Ukraine April 26, 1986 The deadliest nuclear accident in the world history

The Chernobyl plant was built as part of the Soviet s push to industrialize in the 1970 s and 1980 s Called the V.I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station Designed to provide electricity for local Soviet communities

Soviet Minister of Power and Electrification in the Soviet Republic of Ukraine, Vitali Sklyarov, designed Chernobyl as the latest advancement in Soviet nuclear power.

Workers at the dedication of the first reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1977. Questions have persisted about the soundness of the Soviet construction.

Nuclear power stations were presented as being an achievement of Soviet engineering, where nuclear power was harnessed for peaceful projects. The slogan "peaceful atom" was a popular term.

A view of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant prior to the disaster from Soviet media

A view of life in Pripyat, Ukraine during the early 1980 s. The Soviet government spent millions building communities like Pripyat to showcase the greatness of Soviet planning.

Volodymyr Shashenok, an engineer at the station, seen here posing with his son in Pripyat, Ukraine. Pripyat was designed to be a permanent home for many of Chernobyl's workers and their families.

Around 1:20am, plant officials conducted an experiment to see how much energy could be drawn from the reactor during an emergency situation Shut down the reactor Cut off power Measure how much power was left to run the plant s emergency systems

One of Chernobyl s main control room operators at his station. Many of the workers within the plant s control rooms had basic training, but had been rushed through so that the plant would be ready on time.

Soviet media images of Chernobyl plant workers at their stations

When the reactor was shut down, power to the reactor s cooling system was also shut down No water to cool the reactor The plant managers also had received limited training Did not understand the warning signs that the plant was giving them

Without water to the reactor, the core went into meltdown Massive uncontrollable power spike Soviet controllers panicked and shutdown the reactor completely This caused a massive explosion with the reactor

A Soviet Air Force overhead shot of the damaged Chernobyl reactor. Soviet officials, unaware of just how bad things were, tried to hide the extent of the damage from the world media

Another overhead shot of the stricken plant from Soviet military planes shows even more damage to the Chernobyl plant and smoke from nearby fires

As a result of the Chernobyl explosion, massive levels of radiation was released into the air Fires also started into the plant s damaged reactor Spread more radiation throughout the surrounding communities

At the start of the disaster, Soviet firefighter rushed to try and put out the blaze without any protective gear or equipment. This monument is dedicated to their memory

A fuller shot of the Chernobyl firefighters memorial in Kiev, Ukraine

Soviet military helicopters attempted to help in fighting the fires around the Chernobyl plant by airlifting loads of sand and earth and dumping them into the damaged reactors. This did little good. Sadly, one helicopter was lost when it hit a crane and crashed, killing its four-man crew.

Many firefighters were exposed to massive amount of radiation. About 30 plant workers and firefighters would die over the next few weeks due to radiation sickness

At first the Soviet government tried to hide the extent of the disaster No evacuations No warnings Eventually, had to admit the true nature of the situation

Reporters were given limited information on the Chernobyl disaster, restricted to government-controlled briefings and no questions. Those that tried to venture into the evacuation zone were either sickened by radiation or arrested by Soviet police

Soviet citizens being evacuated from the areas around Chernobyl. Over 50,000 people were evacuated from local towns. In the end, over 200,000 people would be relocated

Chernobyl evacuation buses moving local civilians to relocation centers. Many were never allowed to return to their homes.

Soviet primer Mikhail Gorbachev (2nd to the right in the foreground) and his wife Raisa, (3rd to the right) talk to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant personnel.

Soviet officials scrubbing down cars coming from the evacuation zone, to try and prevent further contamination.

Signs set up by Soviet officials to warn locals of radioactive contamination.

Radiation from the plant spread over much of Europe, Asia, and North America 237 locals die immediately Thousands effected by radiation 40 million are exposed, sickened, or killed Results: Widespread fears of nuclear power Mistrust of Soviet government Increased calls for reform within the Soviet government

Red = areas effected by Chernobyl fallout

Today, the damaged reactor is encased in a giant containment unit, but much of the area is still heavily affected by radiation.

The forests around Chernobyl have been turned reddish-brown due to radiation contamination. Today it is known as the Red Forest

Today, many Soviet settlements inside the evacuation zone are ghost towns, frozen in time due to the haste by which people left them.

Overhead shot of abandon apartment buildings in Pripyat, Ukraine. The Chernobyl plant can be seen in the background.

The Pripyat ferris wheel, which was designated for opening on the day of the disaster, still sits unused and has become an enduring symbol of the disaster.

Thousands of Soviet and European citizens are sickened by radiation from Chernobyl, often resulting in rare forms of cancer, especially among children.

A few of the images of children effected by the disaster. Birth defects, childhood cancers, and strange sickness continue to be an issue for the families of those directly effected by the disaster.