/r/chernobyl
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
108,414 Subscribers
Buoys in Chernobyl Reactor – What Were They Really For? | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep10
Those strange, conical objects you might have seen in photos from the core of Reactor 4. Few people know that these devices, known as Buoys, played a critical role in understanding the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster.
Installed in the summer of 1986, these rugged devices formed a network of detectors, providing the first continuous data about the destroyed reactor’s radiation, temperature, and thermal flux. Their deployment was a high-stakes mission, carried out in one of the most dangerous places on Earth. Every step—from their innovative design to their precise placement—was a feat of bravery and ingenuity. Their data revealed a critical truth that shaped the decisions to come.
15:11 UTC
Does anyone have a map of Pripyat?
Looking for a highly detailed map of Pripyat. I am working on a game project with my friend and i need an accurate map to build off of. We want to be faithful to the city and its layout of unique POI’s. help is greatly appreciated!
03:45 UTC
Liquidator medals
Does anyone have an actual accounting of all of the Liquidator Medals/Badges from the Soviet, Ukrainian, and Russian Governments? I don't just mean the 4 main ones, but I also want the Anniversary Medals and such. If someone has done this with photos and titles in English/Russian/Ukrainian ETC I would love a copy.
19:25 UTC
Signs underground
Hello! I was wondering if anyone could tell me what sorta of signs they’d have in the corridors in the power plant underground. I can’t seem to find any apart from outside radioactive general symbol signage. Anyone have pictures ??? Thanks
23:41 UTC
Chernobyl decontamination process after the incident
21:46 UTC
How radioactive is the Elephant’s Foot today?
At the time in 1986 the Elephants foot was the most radioactive object at Chernobyl post disaster along with the fireman’s clothing in the basement of the hospital and obviously the core itself,
But it got me thinking, if I were to stand near it for say 30 minutes approximately how bad of a dose would i receive considering it’s been decades since the explosion.?
16:33 UTC
Since the reactor 4 ruins are being dismantled under the NSC what will happen to buildings 1, 2 and 3?
16:17 UTC
Photo of inside the NCE
I took this picture of a photo that was on the wall inside the visitors centre. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to capture who these men are, or the name of the photographer that took it, our guide only gave us a few minutes inside so I was kind of snapping everything I could. I’ve not seen this image before, so thought you’d all find it interesting just for sheer scale of the NCE. Again, Kudos to whoever took the original photo.
15:13 UTC
New Project: 1:1 Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant Replica (Using original floorplans)
After many failed attempts and scrapped projects, I am finally commited to one project. This time I am building in Minecraft version 1.17.1 and the most biblically accurate as I can with all my gathered knowledge over the many years i am interested in this topic. Currently I completed the VSRO block and now i will be building units 4 and 3. Hope you enjoyed what you saw, goodbye from 🇨🇿!
14:07 UTC
What was the hiring process like for Chernobyl workers back in the USSR?
And how does it compare today?
13:11 UTC
Does anyone have videos of legasov's tapes but in english?
So legasov before he died recorded 5 tapes, I want to listen to them but to all shock i dont speak any russian... So i found the "The Legasov Tapes" blog with english translations and i have no problem reading them but id rather listen to them as a kind of podcast. I also found the series from Aenigmaticus but that series isnt finished... So does anyone know where to listen to legasovs tapes in english?
22:05 UTC
An image of cars being cleaned of any radiation before exiting
20:47 UTC
Related to CHNPP?
I want some RBMK-5000 videos but to no avail So if you guys have some can you please come forward with it? It’s really addictive
15:08 UTC
Vasily Ignatenko photos
Do you guys know if there are any pictures of Vasily in Hospital N°6? Also, do you think that the patient in this video https://youtu.be/gQYXYNEzlTM?si=ijw679mKcBy7dvz3 at 1:19:12 may be him?
16:09 UTC
Oleksandr Ivanovich Agulov, Senior Operator of Main Circulation Pumps (MCPs) at Reactor Shop No. 2, Unit 3 of the ChNPP
He was born on 19 February 1957 in the town of Lisky near Voronezh into a large family. His father worked at the railway as a locomotive depot mechanic. His mother kept house and raised four children. After completing eight years of schooling in 1976, he studied at the Novovoronezh Energy College, specialising in installation and operation: "Installation and Operation of Steam Generating Units and Nuclear Power Reactors". In 1975, he underwent technological practice in the reactor shop of the Kola NPP, and in 1976, he completed his pre-diploma practice at the Armenian NPP. "During my studies, lectures, including specialised ones, were delivered mainly by engineers from the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant, who gave the essence of certain knowledge. There were few textbooks, so the essence of knowledge was gleaned from practitioners. Together with a group of young specialists, I was assigned to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine to the South Nuclear Power Plant, better known as Utem (27 Pushkinska Street, Kyiv)". He took part in the pre-commissioning works at the Kyiv CHPP-5. He dreamed of building and installing the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. 1979 - demobilised and returned to Prypyat to work at the ChNPP Directorate, namely, in Reactor Shop 2. He worked as an operator, and later as a senior operator of the MCPs. In 1986, on the night of the ChNPP accident, he worked in the 5th shift at RTs-2, rescued his comrades during the explosion, received 150 rem of radiation exposure, and suffered from acute radiation sickness of the 1st degree. He was treated at Moscow Clinical Hospital No. 6 with a diagnosis of acute radiation sickness and underwent a long course of rehabilitation.
STATE AWARDS:
- Order of Merit, third class, and jubilee medals
15:29 UTC
are there more rooms like 714/2?
are there more feedwater rooms like 714/2? like in unit three or other npps that use newer generation RBMK? are there any pictures?
05:26 UTC
There is a wooden chair sitting on top of Chernobyl's reactor. I have no idea how it got there, but I certainly wouldn't want to sit in it.
23:42 UTC
How bad was Akimov’s condition at the end?
I know in real life Akimov’s condition was worse than what the show depicted even though they never showed it due to viewer discretion and out of respect for the man and his family,
But it did make me wonder how bad he actually got towards the end and how severe his condition got physically, was the series sugar coating the grisly details or was it accurate?
17:41 UTC
My story.
My story is short. I will remain anonymous for secrecy and for the reservation of my hermitage.
You can choose whether to believe me or not. I can not make you do that. My parents, deceased to the day. They lived off into the woods. Deep. Near water. One day the woods have gone silent. Then they hear the explosion. Then in the far away a siren. Confused. A bad feeling got them, I was told. They prayed. Hour went by, by and by. Nothing. A day or two days went by and men came through the woods. They talk to my parents. Tell them to leave. They did not tell them why at that time. As they would later find on the news as to a reason why. OK. They were afraid. They were without home. In 2000 they give birth to me. Very late time in their life. My papa was without job. Too old to work and sick. They eventually went back. They live in the woods for long time. My papa dies before I turn 12 and my mama lives another 9 years. My mama marries another man. By a miracle she bears a child. My sister. I am 20 at this time. She dies during birth. She was too old. Her husband took her too Bratslav and buried her. Lived back there. I lived into those woods in Pripiat until I was 22. I am currently unharmed by substance. And I live now in the United Kingdom with a job and my love (Собака (a cat)).
07:29 UTC
Talk to me about the elephants foot, anyone know how long you'd have to hang around for it to be lethal these days?
05:56 UTC
Over 10 Sv/hr inside Chernobyl sarcophagus. Screenshot from Alexander Kupny's video.
I have a lot of these dosimeters (MGP DMC 2000), when they go above 10 Sv/hr they will flash between that display and "Satur.".
03:38 UTC
Visiting Chornobyl in 2024
How safe is it to visit Chornobyl in 2024? I heard that russians might have left mines and other stuff when they were retreating
03:09 UTC
Chernobyl’s Operation Needle: A Bold Plan That Went Wrong | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep 09
In the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, helicopters played a critical role in addressing the unfolding crisis. Among the many operations, one stands out as particularly ambitious and little-known: Operation Needle.
This episode explores the story of an 18-meter steel probe designed to measure radiation, temperatures, and neutron flux inside Reactor 4. From its rapid development by Vladimir Shklover’s team to the challenges of its deployment by Mykola Melnyk and his crew, we follow the journey of this extraordinary device. While the operation was a complex and heroic effort, it was only years later that its ultimate failure came to light, leading to unexpected insights about the reactor’s condition.
12:44 UTC
Anyone know what happened to the famed ISU-152? It was pulled out from its usual spot.
05:48 UTC
Schedule
Perhaps someone knows, I am interested in the schedule of shifts at the Chornobyl NPP. Akimov's shift started working at midnight on April 26. Their previous shift started at midnight on April 25. After that, they were replaced by Kazachkov's shift. At 16:00 they were replaced by Tregub's shift. And after them, Akimov's shift started again at midnight. When did Babichev and Smagin's shifts work? How often and when did the night, morning and day shifts change because the team cannot work at night all the time?
00:49 UTC
Anyone have pictures of this building on the Belarus side of the exclusion zone?
Any photos of Khutor Les or that name in Cyrillic would also be appreciated.
I believe the building is only one story high since foliage has already taken a section of the roof and there are similar buildings on the Ukraine side with that shape that only have one story.
14:43 UTC