Chernobyl

The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Chernobyl accident, the media often used the term Chernobyl disaster - the destruction of 26 April 1986 of the fourth unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR (now - Ukraine). The destruction was of the explosive nature of the reactor was completely destroyed, and the environment were released large quantities of radioactive substances. The accident is regarded as the largest of its kind in the history of nuclear energy, both in the estimated number of dead and injured from the consequences of its people and economic damage. During the first three months, 31 people died after the accident; long-term effects of radiation detected over the next 15 years, caused the death of 60 to 80 people. 134 people suffered from radiation sickness to varying degrees of severity. More than 115 thousand. People from the 30-km zone were evacuated. To eliminate the effects were mobilized significant resources, over 600 thousand. Persons participated in the aftermath of the accident. [3]

In contrast to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the explosion reminded very powerful «dirty bomb" - a major damaging factor was the radioactive contamination.

The cloud from the burning reactor spread a variety of radioactive materials, and especially iodine and cesium radionuclides, over much of Europe. The greatest loss observed over large areas in the Soviet Union, located near the reactor and related now to the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

The Chernobyl accident was the event of great social and political significance for the Soviet Union. All this has left a definite imprint on the course of investigation of its causes. [5] The approach to the interpretation of the facts and circumstances of the accident has changed over time, and completely no consensus so far.