[April 26, 1986: Dyatlov meets with plant director Viktor Bryukhanov and chief engineer Nikolai Fomin in a bunker underneath the plant]
[dryly] I take it the safety test was a failure.
We have the situation under control.
Nikolai FominUnder control? It doesn't look like it's under control.
Shut up, Fomin. [to Dyatlov] I have to tell the Central Committee about this. Do you realize that? I have to get on the phone and tell Maryin, or God forbid Frolyshev, that my power plant is on fire.
No one can blame you for this, Director Bryukhanov
Of course no one can blame me for this. How can I be responsible? I was sleeping. Tell me what happened. Quickly.
We ran the test exactly as Chief Engineer Fomin approved. Unit Shift Chief Akimov and Engineer Toptunov encountered technical difficulties, leading to an accumulation of hydrogen in the control system tank. It, regrettably, ignited, damaging the plant and setting the roof on fire.
[Bryukhanov looks to Fomin]
Fomin
The tank is quite large, yes. It's the only logical explanation. Of course, Deputy Chief Engineer Dyatlov was directly supervising the test, so he would know best.
A hydrogen tank, fire...Reactor?
We're taking measures to ensure a steady flow of water through the core.
Obviously, down here it's nothing, but in the reactor building, I'm being told 3.6 roentgen per hour
Well, that's not great, but it's not horrifying.
Fomin
Not at all. From the feedwater, I assume?
[Dyatlov nods]
Fomin
We'll have to limit shifts to six hours at a time, but otherwise...
The dosimetrists should be checking regularly. Have them use the good meter, from the safe. Right, I'll call Maryin. Have them wake up the local committee, there'll be orders coming down.
[April 26, 1986: Meeting in the power plant office, engineer Anatoly Sitnikov reports high radiation in reactor 4]
What's wrong with you? How'd you get that number from feedwater leaking from a blown tank?
ASAnatoly Sitnikov
You don't.
Then what the fuck are you talking about?
SSitnikov
I... [clears throat] I walked around the exterior of building 4. I think there's graphite on the ground in the rubble.
You didn't. YOU DIDN'T! Because it's NOT THERE!
Nikolai Fomin
What, are you suggesting the core... what? Exploded?
SSitnikov
[almost a whisper] Yes.
Fomin
Sitnikov, you're a nuclear engineer. So am I. So please tell me how an RBMK reactor core explodes. Not a meltdown, an explosion. I'd love to know.
Fomin
Are you stupid?
Fomin
Then why can't you?
SSitnikov
I... [stammers] I don't see how it could explode. [Fomin looks satisfied] But it did.
[pounds the table, swaying on his feet] Enough! I'll go up to the vent block roof. From there, you can look right down into reactor building 4. I'll see it with my own... with my own eyes. [vomits on the table] I apologize. [collapses]
[Inside a military jeep, as Fomin and Bryukhanov prepare to meet Shcherbina; the Soviet military has arrived in force, led by Colonel-General Vladimir Pikalov]
Fomin
It's overkill. Pikalov's showing off to make us look bad.
It doesn't matter how it looks. Shcherbina is a pure bureaucrat, as stupid as he is pigheaded. We'll tell him the truth in the simplest terms possible. We'll be fine. [Both exit the jeep] Pikalov!
[General Pikalov joins in with Fomin and Bryukhanov to welcome Shcherbina. Legasov is standing at a distance as Shcherbina, alone, is saluted by Pikalov]
Comrade Shcherbina, Chief Engineer Fomin, Colonel-General Pikalov, and I are honored at your arrival.
Fomin
Deeply, deeply honored.
Naturally, we regret the circumstances of your visit, but as you can see, we are making excellent progress in containing the damage. [Pulls out his notepad] We have begun our own inquiry into the cause of the accident, and I have a list of individuals who we believe are accountable.
[Shcherbina reads through the note and gestures Legasov to join them]
Professor Legasov, I understand you've been saying dangerous things.
Fomin
Very dangerous things. Apparently, our reactor core exploded. Please, tell me how an RBMK reactor core explodes.
I'm not prepared to explain it at this time.
Fomin
As I presumed, he has no answer.
It's disgraceful, really. To spread disinformation at a time like this.
[Legasov, in a tense situation, says nothing and looks to Shcherbina]
[Notices Legasov and turns to Bryukhanov] Why did I see graphite on the roof?
[Bryukhanov and Fomin's smug expressions dissolve.]
Graphite is only found in the core, where it's used as a—neutron flux moderator. Correct?
[beat] Fomin, why did the Deputy Chairman see graphite on the roof?
Fomin
Well, that—that can't be. Comrade Shcherbina, my apologies, but graphite... that's not possible. Perhaps y—you saw burnt concrete.
Now there you made a mistake. Because I may not know much about nuclear reactors, but I know a lot about concrete.
Fomin
Comrade, I—I assure you—
I understand. [Points to Legasov] You think Legasov is wrong. How shall we prove it?
GPGeneral Pikalov
Our high-range dosimeter just arrived. We could cover one of our trucks with lead shielding, mount the dosimeter on the front.
[all of them look at Legasov]
Have one of your men get as close to the fire as he can. Give him every bit of protection you have. But understand that even with lead shielding, it may not be enough.
PPikalov
[grimly] Then I'll do it myself.
[Colonel-General Pikalov returns from driving a high-level dosimeter close to the fire.]
PPikalov
It's not three roentgen. It's fifteen thousand.
[Legasov closes his eyes.]
[Scherbina just looks at him, and he shuts up instantly.]
[Turns to Legasov] What does that number mean?
It means the core is open. It means the fire we're watching with our own eyes is giving off nearly twice the radiation released by the bomb in Hiroshima. And that's every single hour. Hour after hour, [looks at his watch] 20 hours since the explosion, so forty bombs worth by now. Forty-eight more tomorrow. And it will not stop. Not in a week, not in a month. It will burn and spread its poison until the entire continent is dead.
[Turns to the soldiers] Please escort Comrades Bryukhanov and Fomin to the local Party headquarters. [Turns to Bryukhanov] Thank you for your service.
Fomin
[As he's being taken away] Dyatlov was in charge. It was Dyatlov!
Tell me how to put it out.
PPikalov
We'll use helicopters. We'll drop water on it like a forest fire—
No, no, no. You don't understand. This isn't a fire. This is a fissioning reactor core burning at over 2,000 degrees. The heat will instantly vaporize the water or worse—
[Sighs] You are dealing with something that has never occurred on this planet before. [Shcherbina begins to speak] Boron. Boron and sand. It'll create problems of its own, but I—I don't see any other way. Of course, it's going to take thousands of drops, because you can't fly the helicopters directly over the core, so most of it is going to miss.
[Scoffs] Well, I can't be—
Five thousand tons. And obviously, we're going to need to evacuate an enormous area—
Never mind that. Focus on the fire.
I am focusing on the fire. The wind, it's carrying all that smoke, all that radiation. At least evacuate Pripyat. It's three kilometers away.
That's my decision to make.
Is it or is not your decision—
I'm in charge here! This will go much easier if you talk to me about the things you do understand and not about the things you do not understand. [Walks back to the tent]
I'm going to get you 5,000 tons of sand and boron.
[Pripyat, April 25, 1986 - twelve hours prior to the explosion]
Fomin
I hear they might promote Bryukhanov. This little problem we have with the safety test, if it's completed successfully... yes, I think promotion's very likely. Who knows? Maybe Moscow. Naturally, they'll put me in charge once he's gone, and then I'll need someone to take my old job. I could pick Sitnikov.
I would like to be considered.
Fomin
We'll keep that in mind. [Bryukhanov enters] Viktor Petrovich, preparations for the test have gone smoothly. Comrade Dyatlov's been working per my instructions, and reactor 4's output has been reduced to 1600 megawatts. With your approval, we're ready to continue lowering power to --
Fomin
Is, uh...
Are you going to ask me if there's a problem, Nikolai? You can't read a fucking face? Three years, I've tried to finish this test. Three years. [lights a cigarette] I've just had a call from the grid controller in Kiev. He says we can't lower power any further. Not for another ten hours.
A grid controller? Where does he get off telling us--
It's not the grid controller's decision, Dyatlov. It's the end of the month. All the productivity quotas. Everyone's working overtime, the factories need power, someone's pushing down from above, not that we'll ever know who. [sighs] So do we have to scrap it, or what?
Fomin
No, I don't think so. If we need to wait ten hours, we wait.
[to Dyatlov] Running half power, not going to have stability issues?
Fomin
No, I should think --
It's safe. We'll maintain at 1600. I'll go home, get some sleep, come back tonight. We'll proceed then. I'll personally supervise the test, and it will be completed.
Well, I'm not waiting around. Call me when it's done.
Chernobyl · 50 quotes
