Chernobyl and Eastern Europe Blog

Chernobyl Evacuations - Legal Orders and Counts

2010-07-01T11:27:26Z

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the aftermath of the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The following information includes legal orders for the evacuations and the official Soviet counts of the number of people that were evacuated:

Pripyat and the nearby village Yanov: Organized evacuation of Pripyat (49,360) and the railway station Yanov (254) from 2:00 - 5:00 PM on April 27, 1986, in accordance with a decision by the Government Commission of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
On May 3, 1986 from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM, in accordance with order № -09 dated May 2, 1986 from the Chief of Civil Defense and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Kiev, organized evacuations from the 10- and 30-kilometer zone around the Chernobyl Plant of 7,392 people from 15 settlements.
On May 3, 4 and 7, 1986, another 44 settlements from the 30-kilometer zone around the Chernobyl Plant and some areas near it.
From May 14 to August 16, 1986, in accordance with decision № -70 from the Speical Group of the Communist Party of Ukraine and decrees № -40 / 1, 49 and 64 from the head of Civil Defense and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Kiev, another 15 locations were evacuated (8 from the Kiev region and 7 from the Zhitomir region).
Through mid-August 1986, 90,784 people from 81 settlements in Ukraine were evacuated. During the same period, another 25,000 people were evacuated from 107 settlements in Belarus.
On June 28, 1989, the USSR Council of Ministers, after further testing of the contaminated areas, issued order №-244-C containing procedures and conditions for the relocation of additional settlements in the Zhitomir and Kiev regions due to soil contamination in excess of permissible limits. This set in motion a period of relocation for residents of the zone of unconditional (mandatory) resettlement.
- The first stage of this order's implementation was resolution № -333 from the USSR Council of Ministers, dated December 30, 1989 that provided for the resettlement of approximately 3,200 residents from 12 settlements in the Narodichi area and 4 settlements in the Polesie area.

Chernobyl Polesie State Radiation Ecological Reserve in Belarus

2010-06-28T11:03:11Z

As a result of the 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, approximately 24,700 people were evacuated from a 1,700 sq. km. area in Belarus. At the same time, the land in this area was withdrawn from economic use. In 1988, the Soviet government created the Polesie State Radiation Ecological Reserve (PSRER) was created on most of that land. In 1993, land of an adjacent resettlement area was added to the reserve, increasing its size to 2,154 sq. km.

The purpose of the reserve is to prevent the spread of radionuclides to less contaminated territories, study the effects of radiation on plants, conduct radiation-ecological monitoring and perform research.

In the abandoned village of Masan, within the PSRER borders, is a radiation research monitoring station. The facility is situated approximately 12 km. from the Chernobyl Plant in what used to be an abandoned house on an old farm that previously had 40 cm. of radiation-saturated soil removed.

Two scientists typically live at the station for 12-14 days per month. The house has a working and living room, kitchen, bathroom and storage for batteries that are charged by solar panels. Of course, fresh drinking water is brought to the station from outside the reserve.

From the top of a 20-meter high observation tower, scientists can see the Chernobyl Plant, high-rise buildings in Pripyat and beautiful panoramas of the Polesie landscape.

In Belarus, the Chernobyl Zone consists of two areas:

Zone of Alienation: limited human activity, with forests planted to help prevent the transfer of radionuclides from dust
Exclusion Zone: humans are not allowed to live here due to high levels of radiation

New Video: Inside Chernobyl Reactor 3 and 4 Control Rooms

2010-06-11T16:21:24Z

Below is a new video showing the Reactor 3 and 4 control rooms at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. My friend Sergei, who is the director of Solo East Travel in Kyiv and his guide Yuri were the last people to visit the Reactor 4 control room. Workers have finished building a brick wall that now blocks the control room's entrance, effectively entombing the site.

I always felt very lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the Reactor 4 control room in June 2006, but even more so now. I guess this means I definitely won't be able to see it again in October when I return to Chernobyl.

Here is the video:

Remembering Chernobyl 2010 - 24th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster

2010-04-26T11:22:43Z

On this, the 24th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, it is once again time to remember and honor:

The nuclear accident that occurred at the V.I. Lenin Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant during the early morning hours of April 26, 1986
The firefighters who both risked and gave their lives responding to the first calls about explosions and fires at the Chernobyl Plant
The hundreds of thousands of liquidators who also risked their lives during the clean up operations and Sarcophagus construction following the accident
The residents of Pripyat, who were unnecessarily put at risk by the Soviet government, which failed to evacuate the city until 36 hours after the accident
The thousands of people, including liquidators and former Pripyat and Exclusion Zone residents, who continue to suffer adverse health effects due to radiation exposure and contamination from the accident
The residents of neighboring towns and villages who were also evacuated from their family homes after the accident
The roughly 250 elderly samosels who moved back to their homes within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and continue living there today

Chernobyl Documentary Film Reviews

2010-04-14T20:53:17Z

The 24th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is less than two weeks away and there is not much new to report regarding activities within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Therefore, I figured this would be a good time to re-post some reviews I wrote several years ago about some Chernobyl documentary films. Either click on the links below or go to the Articles section of this website to read the full reviews

The first documentary film is Pripyat. This 1999 black and white film by Nicklaus Geyrhalter takes a look at life in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The film not only discusses Pripyat, but also the lives of workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and how samosels survive in the Zone. The film also takes a close look at one of the Zone's contaminated vehicle graveyards.

Next is Julio Soto's 2005 documentary, Radiophobia. This color film examines the devastation caused by the 1986 Chernobyl accident. The main location is the city of Pripyat, though it also briefly touches on the samosels. My friends and former Pripyat residents Lyubov Sirota and her son Sasha appear in this film.

Last, but certainly not least, is Heavy Water: A Film for Chernobyl. Directed by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky, the moving film is based on Mario Petrucci's book-length poem, "Heavy Water: A Poem for Chernobyl." This film is quite different, substituting Petrucci's poetry in place of facts and general narration. Heavy Water places more focus on the samosels, though it also looks at Pripyat and some abandoned villages.

Radioactive Tritium Leaking from Vermont Yankee NPP

2010-03-30T19:44:53Z

In early January 2010, reports indicated that groundwater wells at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant were contaminated with radioactive tritium. A new report just released by Vermont State Department of Health Officials indicates radioactive tritium was found in a deeper well than at the location of the previously discovered leak. This news comes on the heels of last week's announcement by Vermont Yankee personnel that they had stopped all of the plant's tritium leaks.

In May 2009, prior to these findings, Vermont Yankee's vice-president of operations told the Vermont Public Service Board there was no underground piping at the facility. However, an October 2009 report by an oversight panel of nuclear experts confirmed the presence of contaminated underground pipes.

Initial tritium measurements at the site showed levels of the isotope were below the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum acceptable amount for drinking water. By mid-January, the levels of tritium had risen to 20,000 picocuries per liter, the maximum federal limit for drinking water.

On February 4, 2010, Vermont Yankee reported that groundwater samples from a new monitoring well had approximately 775,000 picocuries of tritium per liter, over 37 times the EPA safe drinking water limit. Further water samples taken on February 5-6 from an underground vault and groundwater measured between 2.45 and 2.7 million picocuries per liter. Straight reactor water averages 2.9 million picocuries per liter.

Contamination has yet to be detected in the nearby Connecticut River, but officials are continuously monitoring the situation.

In addition to being a product of nuclear fission, Tritium can be found in nature in very small amounts. The substance has been linked to cancer if it is ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin in large amounts.

An Associated Press story from early February claims that at least 27 of the United States' 104 nuclear reactors at 65 plant sites are currently leaking radioactive tritium. These leaks are suspected to be coming from deteriorating underground pipes.

Photo: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

New Chernobyl Today Photo Report

2010-03-23T21:33:49Z

My friend Michael Forster Rothbart has a new photo project titled "Chernobyl Today" that is featured in the latest issue of zReportage, an online investigative photojournalism magazine.

You may recognize some of the images from Rothbart's After Chernobyl project, but Chernobyl Today has 20 new photos in the slideshow. If you are interested in purchasing copies of Rothbart's Chernobyl photos, they are now available through Zuma Press.

All Unused Nuclear Fuel Removed From Chernobyl NPP

2010-03-16T20:06:46Z

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant administration has announced that, within the framework of the licensing plans for the decommissioning of the facility, all previously unused nuclear fuel has now been removed from the site. The last 68 fuel assemblies were removed on March 5 and exported to Russia per a previously signed agreement.

Assemblies of spent nuclear fuel are still being housed at the Chernobyl Plant. However, the process of unloading used fuel from Reactor 3's holding pool is proceeding ahead of schedule.

In other Chernobyl-related news, meetings are being held to insure the quick and quality implementation of both the ISF-2 spent fuel processing facility and construction of the New Safe Confinement structure.

Photo courtesy of ChAES

Ukrainian Election Result Suspended Due to Tymoshenko Appeal

2010-02-17T15:15:57Z

Ukraine's Administrative Court has suspended the results of the country's February 7 runoff presidential election while it considers an appeal filed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych defeated Tymoshenko in the election by 3.48% of the vote. Yanukovych's inauguration is currently scheduled for February 25.

Despite the declaration by international election monitors that the vote was free and fair, Tymoshenko claims the vote was fraudulent. Yesterday, Tymoshenko submitted to the court what she said is evidence of election fraud. Tymoshenko claims to have uncovered evidence of fraud in favor of Yanukovych at every polling station in Crimea, possibly accounting for over 1 million votes. She also claims to have the support of several individual OSCE observers and videos of their assessments. The OSCE has denied the existence of any videos that support Tymoshenko's claims.

At this point, I'm not sure what to believe. However, it is interesting that Tymoshenko is limiting her fight to the courts. She says she will not be arranging any public protests, similar to the 2004 Orange Revolution.

Is it possible that Tymoshenko is not calling for public protests because she does not have credibility with the Ukrainian people to successfully arrange for such a gathering? By not calling for public protests, Tymoshenko appears to be making this a personal issue instead of fighting for the rights of the Ukrainian people to have a fair election.

Chernobyl New Safe Confinement - New Completion Date Announced

2010-02-15T21:31:05Z

According to Igor Gramotkin, Director-General of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, facility administration hopes completion of the facility's New Safe Confinement structure will occur in 2013. Design delays have pushed back the structure's expected completion date.

Both the state of Ukraine and the Chernobyl Plant administration are looking for the most reliable equipment to avoid future operational risks for the NSC, which is being designed to be functional for at least 100 years. Thus, the Chernobyl Plant administration is not prepared to necessarily accept the cheapest system available.

The cost of the NSC object is currently estimated at 1.6 billion euros, over twice the original estimate of 758 million euros. Gramotkin did not rule out the possibility that the final construction cost will be higher.

The stabilization of the existing Sarcophagus was completed in 2009. This stabilization effort has increased the safe operation of the aging structure for at least 15 years.

The NSC will have the following characteristics:

Height: 108 meters
Width: 257 meters
Length: 150 meters

While the New Safe Confinement project has been delayed, at least it's nice to know they're not "cheaping out" on systems and materials. If building the best and safest possible confinement structure requires a longer period of time, that's fine with me. At least the existing Sarcophagus has been stabilized, minimizing the threat of collapse.

Exit Polls Indicate Yanukovych Wins Ukraine's 2010 Presidential Runoff Election

2010-02-07T19:59:59Z

Several exit polls indicate opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych has narrowly won Sunday's presidential runoff election in Ukraine. Challenger and current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is expected to challenge the election results.

Ukraine's National Exit Poll 2010, which is conducted by a group of leading pollsters, indicated Yanukovych, the leader of the Party of Regions, received 48.7% of the vote, as compared to 45.5% for Tymoshenko. The poll's margin of error is 2.5%.

International market research firm GfK Group indicated a larger margin of victory for Yanukovych, 49.8% to 45.2%, with a margin of error of 1.6%.

It appears that many Ukrainians were not voting for a particular candidate, as much as they were voting against the other.

Outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko urged his supporters to vote against both Yanukovych and Tymoshenko, saying that Ukrainians will be ashamed of the choice they have to make.

Oleksandr Turchynov, Tymoshenko's campaign manager, said they would contest votes cast at over 1,000 polling stations in Ukraine's Donetsk region, an area that strongly supports Yanukovych. Turchynov indicated that Tymoshenko delegates were barred from polling places in the region. Turchynov also complained of multiple voting and bribery.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said they had not received reports of serious violations during Sunday's vote.

Yanukovych has indicated if he became president, he will attempt to remove Tymoshenko as prime minister by encouraging defections from her coalition and forming his own parliamentary majority. If that fails, he plans to call for a new parliamentary election a year ahead of schedule.

These election results reflect the feelings of many Ukrainians that the Orange Revolutioin failed to deliver prosperity and stability. Instead, it led to regular bouts of political infighting and the country's current economic crisis. What a shame!

Photo: Rowland Goodman - Creative Commons

Ukraine Presidential Election Results: Yanukovych, Tymoshenko to Face Off in Second Round

2010-01-18T15:44:19Z

On January 17, 2010 Ukraine held its presidential election. With over 80% of the vote counted, it is clear that Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych and current Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will face off in a second round runoff election on February 7.

Other candidates include former Central Bank Chairman Sergey Tigipko, former Foreign Minister and Verkhovna Rada Chairman Arseniy Yatseniuk and incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko.

The following are the latest results of Sunday's first round of voting, as reported by Ukraine's Central Election Commission (with percentage of votes):

Viktor Yanukovych - 35.76%
Yulia Tymoshenko - 24.72%
Sergey Tigipko - 13.05%
Arseniy Yatseniuk - 6.96%
Viktor Yushchenko - 5.33%

Video: Chernobyl - On the Verge of Impossible

2009-12-21T14:46:16Z

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant administration has uploaded a new video to their website. The Russian-language, 31-minute video has some interesting clips of the clean up efforts and the construction of the original Sarcophagus. It's definitely worth a look.

My Chernobyl Liquidator Interview Has Been Published in a New Book

2009-12-11T12:27:42Z

I am excited to announce that my interview with former Chernobyl liquidator Sergei B. has been published by Greenhaven Press in David Nelson's new book, Perspectives on Modern World History: Chernobyl.

The Perspectives on Modern World History series provides basic historical information on significant events in modern world history. Each book presents controversies surrounding a specific event along with first-hand narratives.

Currently available from Amazon.com, Perspectives on Modern World History: Chernobyl is a compilation of essays and narratives/interviews about the Chernobyl disaster, the subsequent clean up efforts and aftermath of the world's worst nuclear accident.

In addition to my interview, the book contains contributions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, a number of familiar Chernobyl book authors and people connected with Chernobyl charities, including:

Svetlana Alexeivich - author of Voices from Chernobyl
Glenn Alan Cheney - author of Journey to Chernobyl and Chernobyl: The Ongoing Story of the World's Deadliest Nuclear Disaster
David R. Marples - author of The Social Impact of the Chernobyl Disaster
Grigori Medvedev - author of The Truth About Chernobyl
Mary Mycio - author of Wormwood Forest
Adi Roche - founder of Chernobyl Children's Project International
Lyubov Sirota - my dear friend, poet and former Pripyat resident

The book's content includes:

Annotated table of contents
Introduction to the topic
A world map
Three chapters containing essays focusing on general background information, multinational perspectives and first-person narratives
Full-color photographs, charts, maps and other illustrations
Sidebars highlighting related topics
Glossary of key terms, as appropriate
Chronology
Bibliography of books, periodicals and Web sites
Index

I'm still waiting to get my contributor's complementary copy, but have seen the complete table of contents and it appears to be a very interesting book. I'll post a review after I get the chance to read it.

ISBN 13: 9780737745559
ISBN 10: 073774555X

Chernobyl Exhibit in Moscow - "Wanting Remembrance"

2009-12-02T12:24:00Z

A new exhibit about Chernobyl has opened in Moscow. ХОТИМ, ЧТОБЫ ПОМНИЛИ (Wanting Rememberance) includes a selection of documentary photographs and video installations showing life in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone before and after the 1986 accident at the V.I. Lenin Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

The exhibit includes work from five Ukrainian photographers and filmmakers, three Russian artists and my friend, Michael Forster Rothbart. The show has been organized by my friends at the public project Pripyat.com and coincides with the annual memorial day for Chernobyl liquidators (Veterans Day) on December 14.

"Wanting Remembrance" officially opens on December 2, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. The exhibit runs through December 13 in Gallery Creativity, on Taganskaya Street in Moscow. See the official "Wanting Remembrance" exhibit website for more details( in Russian).

Other events include:

Daily - Screenings of films by Rollan Sergienko, the director of many films about Chernobyl
December 6, 2:00 p.m. - Roundtable discussion featuring former Pripyat residents
December 12, 3:00 p.m. - Presentation about the current status and future of Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement structure
December 13, 12:00 p.m. - Presentation: Understanding Radiation A to Z

A list of highlights from the exhibit schedule is available on the Pripyat.com website.