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On April 26, 1986, the world’s worst nuclear disaster took place; However, the stories of the key figures involved in the catastrophic event continue to intrigue and torment.
Today marks the 38th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, a tragedy that left a haunting legacy of environmental devastation and human suffering.
Nearly four decades ago, reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located near the city of Pripyat in what was then the Soviet Union (now Ukraine), exploded during a safety test that went horribly wrong.
The meltdown caused the release of radioactive material throughout Europe, and according to the World Nuclear Association that while about 30 people died immediately, hundreds, if not thousands, died later as a result of radiation exposure.
From scientists and engineers to politicians and employees, ten key people played a crucial role in the unfolding tragedy and its aftermath.
Here’s a look at what happened to the central figures of the Chernobyl disaster:
In 1986, the world’s worst nuclear disaster took place at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, but the stories of the key figures involved in the catastrophic event continue to intrigue and torment.
Pictured, attending the trial in 1887: Viktor Brioukhanov, director; Nikolai Fomin, deputy director and chief engineer; Anatoly Diatlov, associate chief engineer; Boris Rogojkine, night director; Alexander Kovalenko, supervisor of sectors No. 3 and 4 and Youri Laouchkine, state inspector
1. Anatoly Dyatlov: deputy chief engineer
The deputy chief engineer of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at the time of the explosion, Anatoly Dyatlov, bore great responsibility for the disaster.
Dyatlov supervised a test at the plant’s No. 4 reactor, which resulted in the Chernobyl disaster.
During preparations, Dyatlov ordered the power to be reduced to 200 MW, a figure lower than the 700 MW planned in the test plan; The reactor was stopped unexpectedly during test preparations.
Although he was one of the few who worked at the reactor that night and survived, he was later convicted of serious violation of safety regulations and sentenced to ten years in a Soviet labor camp.
Despite his deteriorating health due to radiation exposure, he remained unrepentant until his death in 1995.
The deputy chief engineer of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant at the time of the explosion, Anatoly Dyatlov (pictured, center), bore major responsibility for the disaster.
2. Viktor Bryukhanov: the director
As director of the plant, Bryukhanov faced similar charges to Dyatlov and was also sentenced to ten years in prison.
Released early due to health problems, he lived his days in darkness, tormented by the events of April 26, 1986.
As director of the plant, Bryukhanov (pictured) faced similar charges to Dyatlov and was also sentenced to ten years in prison.
3. Leonid Toptunov – the senior reactor controller
Toptunov, a young, inexperienced engineer who was on duty the night of the explosion, suffered severe radiation burns and succumbed to acute radiation syndrome within weeks.
He died of acute radiation poisoning on May 14, 1986, and his family was later informed that his death was the only reason he was not prosecuted for the accident.
In 2008, Toptunov was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the third degree by Viktor Yushchenko, the then president of Ukraine.
Toptunov (pictured, right), a young, inexperienced engineer who was on duty the night of the explosion, suffered severe radiation burns and succumbed to acute radiation syndrome within weeks.
In the photo: Leonid Toptunov’s mother at his grave at the Mitinskoye cemetery memorial complex in the suburbs of Moscow on April 26, 1998.
4. Yuri A. Laushkin – chief engineer and atomic energy inspector at reactor number 4
Yuri A. Laushkin, a senior engineer and inspector of the reactor, was sentenced to two years in prison in a labor camp for negligence and unfaithful performance of his duties, it was reported. Los Angeles Times.
Yuri A. Laushkin (pictured, right), senior engineer and reactor inspector, was sentenced to two years in prison for negligence and faithless performance of his duties.
5. Vasily Ignatenko: the firefighter
Vasily Ignatenko was one of the first to go to the Chernobyl plant in Pripyat.
He was 25 years old when he attended the fire along with other firefighters in Chernobyl.
Ignatenko climbed to the roof of the building and attempted to extinguish the outdoor graphite fires that gave Ignatenko his lethal dose of radiation.
He died, along with 27 other firefighters, from radiation exposure less than three weeks later, but his historic contributions helped prevent the crisis from getting even worse.
His wife Lyudmila Ignatenko detailed the preparations and consequences of her husband’s death, revealing that the morgue was unable to fit the firefighter with a suit or shoes, according to The collector.
Ignatenko’s radiation sickness had made his proper burial difficult, so he, like the other 27 first responders, was buried barefoot under layers of concrete and zinc to protect the public from his still radioactive body.
Vasily Ignatenko (pictured) was one of the first to go to the Chernobyl plant in Pripyat.
Vasily Ignatenko’s wife Lyudmila Ignatenko (pictured) detailed the preparations and aftermath of her husband’s death, revealing that the morgue was unable to put a suit or shoes on his body.
6. Nikolai M. Fomin: former chief engineer
As chief engineer of the Chernobyl plant, Fomin was sentenced along with Dyatlov and Bryukhanov to ten years in a labor camp, according to the Los Angeles Times.
However, his health rapidly deteriorated due to radiation sickness and he died in 1987, just a year after the disaster.
7. Boris V. Rogozhkin: acting director
Rogozhkin was shift leader at the reactor at the time of the explosion and was sentenced to five years in prison for violating safety regulations and two years for negligence, according to the report. Los Angeles Times.
8. Alexander P. Kovalenko: Head of Reactor No. 4
Alexander P. Kovalenko, superintendent of the reactor, was sentenced to three years in prison for violating safety regulations.
9. Boris Shcherbina: Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union
Shcherbina, a Soviet politician charged with overseeing the government’s response to the disaster, faced criticism for his handling of the crisis.
He arrived 18 hours after the explosion and discovered that none of the local ministers wanted to take responsibility for the consequences of declaring the reactor dead.
He refused to use nuclear protection and his first suggestion to contain the graphite fires was to pour water on them (which would have caused the fires to spread).
Buses had been waiting for 36 hours between Chernobyl and Pripyat, and yet citizens were not allowed to leave until the afternoon of April 27, when radiation levels had reached between 180 and 300 milliroentgens per hour, according to The collector.
Despite his initial denial of the seriousness of the situation, he subsequently played a crucial role in evacuation and containment efforts.
Shcherbina passed away in 1990 and her legacy was shaped by her actions during Chernobyl.
10. Maria Protsenko: leading the evacuation after the Chernobyl disaster
Maria Protsenko was the chief architect of the city of Pripyat and a force to be reckoned with: she was known for carrying a ruler with her when assessing buildings and scolding workers if they were not precise.
On the night of April 26, 1986, Protsenko was one of the first to urge immediate evacuation.
When Scherbina finally gave the order to the residents to leave, Protsenko was tasked with organizing the evacuation: planning the escape of every person in every building and instructing waiting buses on where to take the citizens.
Protsenko was the last person to leave the city only when she was convinced that everyone else was safe.
She is still alive and continued to live in Ukraine until 2022, when she and her family fled the country to Germany following Russia’s invasion.