Heroes of Ukraine. Liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster

On the night of April 25-26, 1986, at 1:23 a.m., an explosion rang out at the fourth power unit of the Chornobyl NPP. As a result, a large-scale fire broke out on the roof of the reactor. Brigades of the 2nd paramilitary fire department under the command of Volodymyr Pravyk and the 6th paramilitary fire department under the command of lieutenant Viktor Kibenka were immediately called to fight the fire. Coordination of actions and extinguishing the fire was carried out by Major of the Internal Service Leonid Telyatnikov. About forty firefighters participated in the extinguishing. After the explosion, a large amount of radioactive isotopes of cesium-137 rose into the atmosphere, which caused an increase in the radiation background.

All firefighters who participated in extinguishing the fire received significant doses of radiation. Many of them died from acute radiation sickness and radiation burns in a short time, but there were also those who survived. For heroic actions and courage, firefighters were awarded state awards of the Soviet Union, and some received the highest title of Hero of the Soviet Union, among them Viktor Kibenok (posthumously), Volodymyr Pravik (posthumously) and Leonid Telyatnikov, who survived and continued his service in fire protection, and then retired with the rank of major general in 1995. Leonid Telyatnikov died of cancer in Kyiv in 2004.

In addition to firemen, the station's employees, who were engaged in turning off equipment, dismantling debris and other work, as well as policemen and doctors who provided first aid to victims of the explosion and radiation, participated in the elimination of the fire.

Celebration of heroes

The feats of liquidators are noted in Ukraine at the state level. Many of them were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the "Golden Star" order. In 2006, this title was awarded to firefighters Mykola Vashchuk, Vasyl Ignatenko, Mykola Tytenko, Volodymyr Tyshur and station worker Oleksandr Lelechenko (posthumously).

On June 24, 2019, the title of Hero of Ukraine with the awarding of the "Gold Star" order was awarded to Oleksiy Ananenko, Valery Bespalov and Boris Baranov (posthumously) for their heroic act of descending into the bubbler pool to empty the water, which prevented an even bigger disaster.< /p>

List of Heroes of Ukraine - Liquidators of the Chernobyl disaster

• Ananenko Oleksiy Mykhailovych
• Baranov Boris Oleksandrovych
• Bespalov Valery Oleksiyovych
• Vashchuk Mykola Vasyliovych
• Ignatenko Vasyl Ivanovich
• Lelechenko Oleksandr Grigoryovych
• Titenok Mykola Ivanovich
• Tishura Volodymyr Ivanovych

Commemoration

Monuments, memorials and plaques to heroes have been installed in many cities of Ukraine. In the memorial complex of the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv, busts of the Chernobyl firefighters Heroes of Ukraine have been installed. Oleksandr Lelechenko's name is engraved on one of the memorial plaques to the Heroes of Chernobyl in Kyiv at the intersection of Verkhovna Rada Boulevard and Myru Avenue.

Busts of four Chernobyl firefighters who were awarded the title of Heroes of Ukraine:

• Mykola Vashchuk's bust in the memorial complex of victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv
• Bust of Vasyl Ignatenko in the memorial complex of victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv
• The bust of Mykola Tytenko in the memorial complex of victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv
• The bust of Volodymyr Tishura in the memorial complex of victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Kyiv

Memorial signs to the victims and liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chornobyl NPP:

• Monument to the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy, Kyiv, built in 1994
• Monument "Black Pain" in Zhytomyr
• Memorial sign to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in the city of Chernihiv
• Monument to liquidators, town of Tsarichanka