Skip to content

May 2, 1986

Deputy Head of the 6th Department of the KGB Administration Lieut. Col. Aksenov, 'Notice of Emergency Incident'

This document was made possible with support from Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)

Secret

Copy # 1

 

NOTICE OF EMEGENCY INCIDENT

 

According to information from the Technical Services, the condition in the area of the atomic energy station and its surrounding area has not changed perceptibly.

 

The level of radiation in the area of the reactor is 100 roentgens per hour; in Pripyat 40-300 [Handwritten above: 1.08 r/hour] microroentgens per second; and in Chernobyl 34 [Handwritten above: 0.034 r/hour] milliroentgens per hour / as of 10:00 AM / .

 

In the process of conducting work on the unit, 1,090 tons of various materials were thrown on it.

 

On May 1st, film taken on April 30th was studied for the purpose of developing a solution regarding the further organization of work. The places where radioactive substances had been scattered were determined. Special equipment is being prepared to collect them.

 

As of May 1st, 42 persons, including 8 children, were sent from Ivankov district to Kiev, and 7 persons from Polesskoe district / from the number of individuals brought from Pripyat / for the purposes of hospitalization. Overall, 124 persons from the Ivankov district and 123 from the Polesskoe district were brought to medical institutions in Kiev.

 

Work is being conducted by intelligence sources in order to collect additional information about the causes of the accident and the way it developed.

 

In relation to a number of experts who allowed elements of subjectivity to enter into their investigation, activity “T” was completed.

 

According to communication from agents “Fizik,” “Kulikov,” and trusted individuals “T.V.G.,” V.A.S.,” and “Kh.L.P.,” which corroborates opinions from individual specialists, the accident is a consequence of violations of the normal work of the reactor in the process of conducting an experiment.  The planning organization did not participate in the preparation of the plan for the tests, although they suggested the idea to use the turbogenerator on overrun to satisfy their own needs. All the possible extra wear on the emergency and detection devices were not considered. The nuclear accident and thermal explosion of the reactor were also a consequence of the experiment.

 

Information has been obtained from agents and trusted individuals about the dissatisfaction of some of the station workers placed at the “Skazochnii” Pioneer camp by the Organization for Domestic Amenities, the failure to take necessary measures to provide radiation safety, and the lack of information about the members of their families, which has been reported to the Government Commission. On the 1st of May a meeting was held between members of the Government Commission and workers from the atomic energy station who were living in the Pioneer camp.

 

30 workers from the station were surveyed and 35 witnesses were questioned who confirmed the information about the violation of conditions for the use of the turbine, which does not conflict with the opinions of several members of the sub-commission.

 

The zone of radioactive contamination is increasing as a result of a strong wind.

 

As of May 1st, the radius of the zone was 10 km and limited to the villages of Lelev and Chistoganovka, where according to information from the SD [Special Department] of the USSR KGB, the level of radiation reached 4 roentgens per hour.

 

According to unofficial information, the question of a possible evacuation of Chernobyl is being deliberated on.

 

Reported: Deputy Head of the 6th Department of the KGB Administration Lieut. Col. Aksenov

 

May 2nd. 10:45

 

 

The document describes levels of radiation in the immediate area, populations which may have been affected, and steps which have been taken in the first few days following the incident.


Document Information

Source

HDA SBU, f. 11, spr. 992, t. 34. Originally published by the Center for Research into the Liberation Movement (TsDVR) together with the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv at http://avr.org.ua/index.php/viewDoc/24476/.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at [email protected].

Original Uploaded Date

2016-07-20

Language

Record ID

134300

Donors

Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY)