/r/chernobyl

Photograph via snooOG

A subreddit to discuss the Chernobyl Disaster that happened on the night of April 26, 1986, and the Exclusion Zone that isolates the city of Pripyat from the rest of the world.

A subreddit dedicated to the Chernobyl disaster: "The Chernobyl disaster (Ukrainian: Чорнобильська катастрофа, Chornobylska Katastrofa – Chornobyl Catastrophe) was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine (then officially Ukrainian SSR), which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities of the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which spread over much of Western USSR and Europe. It is widely considered to have been the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, and is one of only two classified as a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale (the other being the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011). The battle to contain the contamination and avert a greater catastrophe ultimately involved over 500,000 workers and cost an estimated 18 billion rubles."


Subjects considered on topic for this subbreddit include the disaster itself, liquidation efforts, the Exclusion Zone (including the Jupiter factor and Duga radar), the sarcophagus, New Safe Confinement, as well as the pre-disaster history of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant and the city of Pripyat.

Posts about other RBMK reactors or other nuclear disasters (like the Fukushima evacuation zone) are allowed if they relate to Chernobyl and should be tagged with [Peripheral Interest]

Posts to discuss the HBO Chernobyl miniseries are on topic only if they are relating the show to real world events in some way, and should be tagged with [HBO Miniseries]

Self promotion of art, drawings, graphics design or models (both computer and physical) are permitted if they are about Chernobyl and should be tagged with [User Creation]

Topics which advocate for, promote, encourage, or seek advice on illegal activity are strictly prohibited. This includes how-to posts about trespassing in the Zone as well as photos and videos which are explicitly from illegal trespassing.


Discussions about the Current Ukraine/Russia Conflict

Posts and Comments are prohibited if they take sides in the current tensions between Ukraine and Russia, or push any side's justification for war or advocate support for any party in the geopolitical situation. Posts and comments about how the conflict impacts the Zone and what effect a war might have are permitted as they are about the future of the Zone.

This subreddit is about Chernobyl, so as long as the post is about that, it is permissible. But there are plenty of places to discuss the geopolitics of Ukraine/Russia/EU/NATO/etc, so we will be removing comments and posts which make any statement about who might be write or wrong.

/r/chernobyl

106,443 Subscribers

218

Cooling RBMK-1000 with liquid nitrogen

Video uploaded by RBMK5000

13 Comments
2024/11/09
19:42 UTC

50

I don't know the author of the video, but it's pretty cute

7 Comments
2024/11/09
16:46 UTC

10

Map of Pripyat

Hello, I am looking for a detailed map of Pripyat with the names of streets and important buildings But I can't find anything Does anyone have any out there?

4 Comments
2024/11/09
15:29 UTC

15

What is this book about?

7 Comments
2024/11/09
11:22 UTC

16

What does this mark on the City hall mean?

Hi, can I ask what is the meaning of sign above an entrance to City hall in Pripyať?

Nuclear shelter within civil defense in building? Or any organisation sign ? Thank you

https://preview.redd.it/5o8vg7ut7rzd1.png?width=1442&format=png&auto=webp&s=354fab6d366a7087e37680cfd4faf7fa2e6fd7ee

https://preview.redd.it/gub97rbx7rzd1.png?width=579&format=png&auto=webp&s=1c41dab3255b453f8ce25192d836cfb8aa5d7c12

4 Comments
2024/11/08
22:34 UTC

10

Just a question

In less than 2 weeks, the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: The Heart of Chornobyl will be released. And I had a question, have you ever played games from this franchise? And if you have, what do you think about it?

https://preview.redd.it/2jo78dk10rzd1.jpg?width=616&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56ba7256f04b34485475d2c6585c4b4a64e8cb46

2 Comments
2024/11/08
21:48 UTC

5

Has anyone here played the video game 'Chernobylite'?

I just started playing the game 'Chernobylite'. Even though I haven't played much of it yet, I'm just curious how accurate the map of the game is. Does anyone know?

The game itself is obviously fictional. I'm just wondering about the map.

6 Comments
2024/11/08
21:42 UTC

777

Chernobyl control room staff plushies

29 Comments
2024/11/08
21:11 UTC

1,285

Mi8 helicopter crash while extinguishing a fire

4 people died

66 Comments
2024/11/07
14:42 UTC

9

Power Lines Around Chernobyl Help

Hi all,

As part of my Minecraft project featuring all 3 stages of ChNPP I would like to have an as accurate as possible representation of the powerlines / switchyard around the site. I have traced as many as I can on google earth (attachment below), however I am still stuck with the 750kV link to Unit 6, as well as both 330kV lines that feed Units 5 and 6. There's also a substation close to ISF-1 that I am unsure of the layout there as the towers were removed long ago. Does anyone have anymore information on these at all? Or even a plan showing what the full layout would have looked like.

Overview showing the current powerline set up, blue is 750kV, purple is 330kV and orange is 110kV

There's also an isolated 750kV line crossing the cooling pond too, but that only goes as far as the pond boundary, was that for a 3rd 750kV line going to the switch yard?

Only 2/3 750kV lines continue

There's an isolated 330kV line that runs to the south of the 750kV switchyard (red)

Red lines show incomplete powerlines on the map

3 Comments
2024/11/07
13:45 UTC

37

Control room 4

Control room 4 shortly after the accident. In the center is the desk of the NSB ( shift supervisor). You can still see a glass with something on it. Behind the reactor control panel, the workplace of Leonid Toptunov

https://preview.redd.it/d16x2n9spgzd1.jpg?width=605&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=624d167f55980a3753200218964708a4c5500856

4 Comments
2024/11/07
11:12 UTC

0

I got Inside Chernobyls reactor

This is me recently inside Chernobyls reactor

2 Comments
2024/11/07
08:45 UTC

20

6 Comments
2024/11/07
04:28 UTC

5

Need help to find this

Does anyone know if the Dyatlov trial, which appears in episode 5 of the HBO series, really exists? And if so, will anyone have it complete?

3 Comments
2024/11/06
18:08 UTC

0

Is Chernobyl currently occupied?

Would it be safe to travel to Chernobyl since there is currently a war? I seen where Russia said they pulled out of the area but didn’t know if it was true Jw if it would be safe to try and book a tour of the place

24 Comments
2024/11/06
13:59 UTC

133

Ground Level Robots

This video was posted by the deleted YouTube channel RBMK5000

5 Comments
2024/11/06
13:39 UTC

2

Can anyone make me a list of actions legasov put on the ladder (the red and the blue tiles) can anybody make a timestamp of that and translation please?

Can anyone make me a list of actions legasov put on the ladder (the red and the blue tiles) can anybody make a timestamp of that and translation please?

1 Comment
2024/11/05
18:39 UTC

1,052

A video of graphite being loaded into an RBMK reactor

This video was posted by the deleted YouTube channel RBMK5000

49 Comments
2024/11/05
11:41 UTC

30

20th Anniversary Museum Poster

Can anyone provide a complete translation of the poster? I've tried to find the poster on the interweb but, so far, no luck.

5 Comments
2024/11/05
09:06 UTC

15

Chernobyl

English is not my native language, but I wanted to share this very interesting video made by a YouTuber from my country, I hope you like it. I'm still studying about Chernobyl and I believe this channel will help me a lot.

2 Comments
2024/11/04
14:05 UTC

8

Question about Chernobyl Plant's Original Fencing Layout and Structure

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on recreating parts of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant site in 3D as it looked before the accident, and I have a question about the site's fencing.

As you can see in the second and third images, the site's fencing looked like this about 20 years ago: an outer concrete barrier (in blue) followed by two thin barbed wire fences (in red and green). However, in the third and fourth images, it looked quite different back then. Firstly, the layout of the fencing was completely different from today, but more importantly, while there was still an outer concrete barrier, instead of the thin barbed wire fences shown in the second image, there was a thick fence with concrete foundations and a faintly visible barbed wire fence in between (though it's hard to make out in the picture).

I would really like to know what these older fences looked like up close, as I only have images from today. Any reference images or additional information would be greatly appreciated!

Any help is welcome!

First Image

Second Image

Third Image

Fourth Image

2 Comments
2024/11/04
12:57 UTC

27

Chernobyl’s Apocalypse Trucks, Built to Survive Extreme Radiation | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep 06

In this episode, we explore the rather little-known story of the KRAZ-256B1-030 trucks, specially built for the most dangerous mission on Earth: transporting radioactive debris from the Chernobyl disaster site. After the explosion at Chernobyl’s Unit 4 reactor, tons of highly radioactive debris needed to be moved to containment, and regular vehicles simply couldn't handle the extreme radiation levels. A new kind of machine was needed – one capable of surviving lethal radiation while protecting the driver.

In 1986, the engineers at KrAZ in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, took on the challenge, led by design engineer Viktor Kholyavko. They created the lead-lined, radiation-shielded truck that could withstand the apocalypse-level conditions at Chernobyl. In this video, we uncover the unique design of these trucks, including the heavily armored driver’s cabin, the specialized ventilation systems, and the various field modifications tried and tested in the radioactive zone.

8 Comments
2024/11/04
12:16 UTC

13

Medical Staff

I am trying to gather info about the medical staff that responded the night of the 26th, I am already familiar with Belokon, Skachok, and Gumarov but can anyone tell me how many medical personnel and vehicles responded that night, also any individual info would be helpful thanks :)

2 Comments
2024/11/04
03:16 UTC

27

RBMK-5000

Hey, do any of you Remember a certain YouTube Channel called RBMK-5000? He posted things about Chernobyl and soviet nuclear reactors. I cant find any of his old videos.

7 Comments
2024/11/03
21:16 UTC

6

Sarcophagus (Old) inside?

Hi guys im new to this subreddit i was wondering since reactor 3 wasn’t shut down till 2k and reactor 4 was so close to reactor 3 did the sarcophagus split the building of R3&4 in half does anyone have photos?

5 Comments
2024/11/03
13:17 UTC

24

From what i understand from the show this is how chernobyl happened?

(Correct me if something is wrong) -power is not increasing because of xenon poisoning -orders of increasing power -most of the control rods are taken out -most they can go is 200mw -they still go on with the test -water pumps are off -nothing is decreasing reactivity now -xenon decays, steam is present, reactivity increases like wildfire -power surge -az-5 is pressed -all control rods go in -but this backfires as the control rods have a tip made of graphite which increases reactivity -increased reactivity causes any and all liquid water to turn to steam -fuel rods expands and ruptures -control rods cant move further in -graphite tips endlessly increase reactivity -reactor 4 is basically a nuclear bomb now -steam keeps blowing more fuel channels -lid goes off -super heated graphite + hydrogen + oxygen from outside goes kaboom Conclusion: This wouldnt have happened if the control room didnt do the test knowing fully well it wont work however we should also not overlook the fact that if the control rods tips werent made of graphite or if there wasnt a positive void coefficient (basically no water-coolants) this also wouldnt have happened as az-5 wouldve stopped the reaction.

14 Comments
2024/11/02
21:17 UTC

19

An extract from a letter to Telyatnikov from his sons

"Hello, Daddy! I'm writing to you from Artek. Misha and I love it here. We are swimming in the sea. The water is warm. The surroundings are beautiful. We are worried: how is your health? How are you feeling in hospital? We now have two photos of you. Grandpa sent us one and Auntie Galya sent us the other. We look at them often and remember you. Yesterday we organised a swimming competition in the Priberezhny complex. The 9th fire detachment competed with us. Good, cheerful lads. I've seen this detachment's firefighters' diary for 1963. There are signatures from all the children. I noticed a surname written in a clumsy hand: "Telyatnikov Lenya". I was very happy. It was as if I'd met you. After all, you were an Artek boy. Unfortunately, I came third. Here's what I found out about the 9th detachment: your former advisers are now husband and wife. They live in Kislovodsk. I don't know their exact address. Your former colleagues from the detachment came to our post. They recognised you from an old photo. Daddy! Daddy! I received the little Olympia medal for the third degree and several certificates. Misha and I miss you very much and we wish you good health." -Oleg (Extract from a letter from firefighter Oleg Telyatnikov to his father in Moscow, at the 6th clinical hospital. Crimea, ♦ Artek*. June 1986)

1 Comment
2024/11/02
12:19 UTC

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