This is the first photograph taken after accident, and the only one that wasn't ruined by the high level of radiation.
Pripyat, 27 April 1986
Photographer: Igor Kostin
Голова Президії Верховної Ради СРСР Михайло Горбачов (у центрі) та його дружина Раїса Горбачова під час бесіди з керівництвом АЕС 23 лютого 1989 року.
The Ukrainian flag flies in Chornobyl once again. 🇺🇦
Comrade Shcherbina’s badass-walk. He is the BOSS. ❤️
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The first Brukhanov’s report about the accident (from the KGB archive in Kyiv).
Csernobil – Egy szociológiai analízis
“They did not live in this kind of grim society where they were every day standing in line waiting for toilet paper for nineteen hours.”
Craig, that’s exactly what brought joy to Soviet people’s life))
Or, as my favourite post-Soviet joke says: “How good and happy was life in the USSR! People were happy every day: you managed to find and buy a piece of butter - you’re happy, you bought a kilo of sugar - you’re happy, you got toilet paper - you’re super happy. And now? You go to the shop and buy everything you want, where’s the happiness?”)))
Boris Shcherbina with Academician Anatoly Alexandrov. Pripyat, 1984.
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Was just thinking that the only time we really ever saw Scherbina and Legasov cry was when they looked at each other and both silently realised they’d never see each other again and now I kinda wanna lie down and cry myself. Like the situation in Chernobyl was horrific but they couldn’t cry then but after everything, they couldn’t even say goodbye, they couldn’t ever see each other again and that’s what finally set both of them off.
The only thing I can do here, dear anon, is to agree with you *lies down with you, hands you and me a tissue*.
As long as they worked in Chernobyl there wasn't much time to process, to despair, and they always had each other. They could rely on the other one, hold onto each other. Even the most horrific situations become bearable if you go through it together. With someone you believe in, you trust, you love.
And then the trial happened and they got ripped apart. When Boris said he had a year to live they had hoped to spend the time they had left together, they wanted to decide when and how to say goodbye. How awful is it that even this little bit of bittersweet happiness got taken away from them?
How sad is it that all that's been left are the unspoken words between them, the mornings and evenings they don't get to spend with each other? It's fucking sad.
P.S.: This might be a good moment to search for a fic in which they do see each other again? Where they get that little bit of happiness? They deserve it and you too <3
A beautifully heartbreaking question and a beautifully heartbreaking analysis! 💔😢
And adding to their heartbreak is also their realization that Valery’s sacrifice did not work. The faces of those six scientists - blank, skeptical, averting their eyes - tell us that it simply didn’t work, that Valery’s speech at the trial will not spur them into action or spark a push for reform.
(We know that it would happen eventually, but it will take a lot more to do achieve it... it will take everything.)
At that moment, as Boris and Valery say their silent good-byes to each other, they part knowing that the sacrifice was futile - and that they have lost their chance to spend whatever time they have left in this life, together 💔
About the time of the accident: KGB documents are in Moscow time, which is one hour later than Chernobyl. They spoke about the accident nearly an hour after it happened.
In 1986 the whole territory of Ukraine was in Moscow time zone.
I’ve started to read the KGB documents from Ukrainian archives (thanks, @pottedmusic) and this dialog caught my attention:
What? At 1:21 a.m. they speak about the accident that had already happened.
