Chernobyl Series Character Analysis

 

I have seen Chornobyl quite a few times. Based on my perspective on the series, I have written character analysis of the prominent characters. 

Character Analysis of Chernobyl

 

Valery Legasov: He is the deputy director of the Kurchatov Institute, the leading nuclear energy research and development institution of Russia brought in to aid as the chief of the commission for the investigation of Chernobyl disaster.  He oversaw Chornobyl closely, and under his direction it was decided to dump large amounts of boron carbide and sand from helicopters to act as neutron absorbers and prevent any new chain reactions after the explosion. He carried out initiatives to impede the molten radioactive materials from reaching the water in the lower cooling system by building a tunnel to obstruct the radioactive substance from mixing with the groundwater. He also conducted the evacuation of people eventually confining the horrendous repercussion of the disaster in Europe. Although initially he lied to the International community about the causes of this catastrophe hiding the designing errors, ignorance of the workers and the negligence of the concerned authorities.  Later, he truthfully admitted to the wrongdoings in a show trial at Chernobyl city. Because of this action, he was dismissed from USSR Academy of Sciences. He took his life two years after, but he recorded five audio tapes to convey his perspective on Chernobyl.  Although his initial falsehood to the word, was a breach of right to information, but his timely initiatives of preventing spread of radioactive substances, evacuating the city and managing the post diastral situation saved countless lives which makes him one of the most praiseworthy men in the history.

 

Boris Shcherbina is the deputy chairman in charge of handling the consequences of Chernobyl disaster. Intitially although it was reported the disaster was not damaging at all with a radioactivity level of 3.6 roentgen but after visiting the plant with Legasov, it was clear that the havoc wasn’t as minuscule as it was foretold and radioactivity level was 15K roentgen in reality.  He directly cooperated with Legaslove and played an important role in immediate evacuation of Priapyat. He provoked Legasov to hide the real reasons of this disaster however, he supported legasov’s decision to reveal the truth behind this catastrophe. He was another forefront in overcoming the Chernobyl holocaust with minimal consequences.

 

Ulana Khomyur: Professor Ulana researched nuclear physics and examined into what caused the Chernobyl disaster in Pripyat, Ukraine. Ulana informed legaslov about the possibility of second nuclear explosion prevented it from happening. Although KGB member arrested her for her pro-active investigation behind the cause of the explosion, it couldn’t stop her inspection. She uncovered the true causes for the incident, as well as those responsible and encouraged Legasov to reveal the truth. Her every actions explicitly represents her strong moral and firm ethical attitude.

 

Anatoly Dyatlov: Anatoly Dyatlov was a deputy chief engineer at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant who was in charge of the safety tests. Since his promotion was dependent on the successful completion of the safety tests; Thus, even after facing problems in the test and request for stopping it,  He instructed to continue the test by threatening the fire fighters.. This is a highly unethical and immoral action that eventually led to a holocaust. He was aware that the core was not whole, which increased the radioactive levels, but he chose to conceal this knowledge, which resulted in even more destruction. His falsehood and immorality is liable for this catastrophe for which he was imprisoned for ten years.

 

Alexandr Akimov: Akimov was a soviet engineer and the shift supervisor of the 4th power unit during the night of April 26, 1986. He pressed the AZ-5 button during safety test under supervision of Dyatlov but the lowering control rods increased the nuclear reaction and caused the reactor to explode due to a design error. Initially he disbelieved the news of blast but later he directly worked to minimize the effect by pumping water to the exposed reactor core. During his work, he was exposed to a deadly amount of radiation of 15 Gy. Two weeks after the tragedy, Akimov died of acute radiation illness. Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine's then-President, posthumously gave him the 3rd degree Order for Courage for his role in the accident. 

 

 

Leonid Toptunov: He was a 25-year-old senior reactor control chief engineer at the Chernobyl nuclear power facility with barely four months of experience. On the night of the tragedy, he was the operator in charge of controlling and stabilizing the reactor, despite having no prior knowledge or experience in safety tests. Toptunov, on the other hand, holds himself responsible for the explosion. It reflects his strong moral and work ideals.

 

Viktor Bryukcharov: Victor was a former Chernobyl director who oversaw the furnace that erupted on the night of the accident. In 1983, Viktor Bryukhanov signed a document verifying the completion of the threshing furnace construction. However, his work was not done correctly, and he forged the certificate, concealing the fact that reactor number 4 had failed three times in a row. His selfishness and ignorance led to the explosion of the power plant while safety testing for the fourth time. He was also awarded a socialist labor hero for successfully completing his duties which he clearly did not.  Moreover, he also falsely reported to the Deputy Chairman a moderate level of environmental pollution with a radioactive level of 3.5 roentgen. Even after having the option to cancel the test, he did not for his own benefit. This behavior vividly demonstrates his selfishness through a lack of morality and work ethics. He broke his fundamental social and organizational responsibilities for personal gain, which is extremely condemnable. Afterwards, he received a ten-year prison sentence for negligence.

 

Nikolai Fomin: Nikolai Fomin was a Chernobyl lead engineer. He initially hesitated to realize the reactor core had burst. His advancement was also contingent on passing the safety checks. As a result, he ignored the rules and persisted despite the risk factors and warnings. He was found guilty of breaking security protocols, which resulted in the catastrophe. He was sentenced to ten years in prison for his crime.

 

KGB Chairman Charkov: He is one of the biggest antagonist of Chernobyl who showed his ignorance, selfishness, immorality and unethical attitude in every decision. KGB chairman even after being aware of the shortcomings in the design, he kept it a secret from everyone. Despite the fact that the Soviet Union had 16 reactors with comparable deadly flaws, he directed Legasov to conceal the Chernobyl disaster a confidential and secure from the rest of the world. Following the Vienna report, Shcherbina and Legasov struck a compromise with the KGB in which the KGB agreed to repair the remaining reactors which he later denied. After Legasov exposed the truth about the nuclear accident in the trial show, top KGB deputy Charkov abused his position by telling him that the state would reject his evidence and that his role in stopping the tragedy from worsening would result in his dismissal as a scientist.

 

President Mikhail Gorbachev: The President of the Soviet Union, wanted to conceal the incompetence of his officials from the international community by faking reports in Vienna in order to protect his rule. However, as neighboring states learned the actual extent of the Chernobyl disaster, he was forced to apologize to them. Under the supervision of Shcherbina and Legasov, he took the following step.

Analyzed by 

Sadia Ahmmed