The truth about the feat of three Chernobyl divers who saved millions

The events of 35 years ago could have turned into a much greater tragedy if the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had not been limited to one explosion. Otherwise, the second radioactive cloud would have reached Europe and the western regions of Russia. Volunteer divers prevented the disaster, saving the lives of thousands of people. The story of the heroes has become overgrown with rumors. We offer you to find out the truth about the incident that occurred at a nuclear power plant on fire in early May 1986.

The emergency required an operation involving three people with scuba diving skills. The operational staff honestly warned about the high risk of receiving a fatal dose of radiation. Volunteers were quickly found. Three people were deliberately taking risks. They understood the full horror of the consequences of the second explosion, the inevitability of which was not in doubt.

Facts about the Chernobyl tragedy in numbers

Unlike the townsfolk, who were frightened by vague rumors, the divers adequately assessed the situation. The first decade of the liquidators at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant fought the fire, flooding the fire with water, filling the fires with sand and rubble. Emergency evacuation of people was carried out quickly, though with mistakes. Together, all these actions helped to prevent terrible consequences.

According to the medico-dosimetric register of Russia, which was presented in Vienna in 2006, the main consequence of the disaster was a negative change in the statistics of thyroid cancer incidence. Many of the patients were children in 1986. Doctors explain the nature of the consequences of the presence of radioactive iodine in the food.

Radiation monitoring

Another 50 people were killed directly due to the fire at the nuclear power plant. All the victims are employees of the power plant, firefighters, rescuers. The long-term effects of radiation exposure claimed the lives of four thousand people. The number of victims would have been immeasurably greater if a second explosion had occurred at the power plant.

Details of the underwater mission

The situation at the nuclear power plant became more complicated after five days. The fire was almost under control. But another threat loomed over the people. The reactor, destroying the concrete slab, continued to melt. Under the concrete was a pool with a huge volume of water. If the radioactive fuel reaches the water, a new explosion of incredible force will occur. The contact of the incandescent mass of a nuclear reactor with water will emit a huge cloud of radioactive water and steam into the atmosphere. According to preliminary calculations, the cloud will inevitably cover the western regions of Russia and Europe.

Volunteer divers: Alexey Ananenko, Valery Bespalov and Boris Baranov

To prevent a nuclear disaster, it was necessary to immediately drain the water basin. Unfortunately, the control of the gates from the outside was not available due to the destruction of the nuclear power plant. Direct access to the shut-off valves was under water. The divers had to swim in close proximity to the nuclear reactor to reach the shut-off valves, manually open the gates and drain the pool. It was necessary to find three volunteers who would take the risk of fatal radiation exposure.

Underwater expedition of the three daredevils

It took three people to participate in a dangerous mission. One diver had to carry the lamp, two had to turn the shutter. Engineer Valery Bespalov, together with his colleague Alexey Ananenko, announced their readiness to return to the destroyed power unit. Boris Baranov, who worked at the nuclear power plant as a shift supervisor, also volunteered. The volunteers were aware that they would be exposed to extreme radiation in the pool.

Preparation for immersion in tanks

The tank was pitch dark. The group navigated underwater using a special flashlight. They moved in a roundabout way, trying not to approach the area of radioactive damage. The divers made it safely to the gate cranes. It took them several attempts to open the gates. The underwater expedition coped with the task, the water roared out of the tank.

It took a whole day for the pool to be emptied of millions of gallons of water. Three volunteers prevented a terrible disaster. They made it to the surface safely. After that, they were taken to the hospital for examination. No one could believe that the three daredevils managed to survive in the most dangerous conditions. Their feat became a legend, which quickly became rumored.

How long did the expedition members live

According to rumors, the divers managed to survive only one week. Allegedly, they received a dose of radiation incompatible with life. Next to the bodies, the dosimeters went off scale. Therefore, the dead heroes were buried in sealed lead coffins. It wasn't that tragic, though. Probably, living heroes were not so dear to public opinion. So the journalists rewrote the story of one feat.

But the Chernobyl divers were not going to die in a week, a year, or decades. So, a heart attack ended the life of the shift supervisor Boris Baranov in 2005. Engineer Valery Bespalov successfully worked at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant until his retirement, he retired in 2008. Alexey Ananenko is still alive. He is the head of the "Ukrainian Nuclear Forum".

Monument to firefighters-heroes with the inscription: "To those who saved the world»

The legendary divers did not receive a lethal dose of radiation exposure. Before the accident, they worked at a nuclear power plant and had sufficient qualifications to understand the degree of risk. Each member of the mission carried two dosimeters. The volunteers followed a route that was far from the deadly zone.

In 1986, the media passed off the rumors as reality, which helped to inflame public opinion. Even today, many sources support the version of the death of the legendary divers. The spread of rumors has reached the point that the true fate of the three volunteers is known only to close friends.

Yes, the Chernobyl accident is a tragedy that has changed the lives of so many people. Some risked eliminating the consequences of the disaster. Others have lost their past due to relocation. The vast majority of the population of the vast country was lost in guesswork due to the lack of reliable information. After 30 years, it is time to bring clarity, destroy the terrible myths and tell true stories about the selfless professionalism of the liquidators.