Chernobyl Blast: Valery Legasov’s Battle

Valery Legasov was a prominent Soviet scientist, member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR and Deputy Head of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy. He was involved with a group of scientists who worked on the liquidation of consequences of the Chernobyl accident.

Upon hearing about the Chernobyl accident, Legasov visited the site including hovering above the reactor in a helicopter at a height of 300 meters. He informed the government about the situation, noting security risks at the plant. He even called for the immediate evacuation of Pripyat and caused himself trouble by honestly and openly reporting his findings.

While investigating the Chernobyl site, Legasov exposed himself to massive amounts of radiation at Reactor 4 and soon began suffering from health problems and depression. Legasov committed suicide on the second anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, but not before leaving a recording in which he explained the unknown facts about the disaster, including the reactor design as the main source.

It will be well-worth your time to watch this excellent 26-minute report by Russia Today reporter Alexey Yaroshevsky, which explores the accident, Legasov’s life, and his mission to find the cause of the Chernobyl accident.