The Battle of Chernobyl

00:00:21 A day that will remain forever engraved in their memory.

00:04:09 By early morning the clouds are already being contaminated by the radioactive column rising one thousand meters into the sky.

00:07:15 Not a word about an explosion.

00:11:10 How could I send them in there?

00:14:11 I remember perfectly well having to choose which toys I was going to take.

00:17:57 The level of radioactivity suggests there's been a major accident somewhere.

00:21:29 It was completely off the scale.

00:24:47 They were all dressed alike, wearing the same pajamas.

00:28:48 The inhabitants of the city of Chernobyl, seven kilometers from the plant, are evacuated.

00:32:45 They were very worried.

00:36:03 It's highly criticized today, but given the situation, there was no better solution.

00:39:17 A new operation is considered.

00:43:24 Radioactivity at the mouth of the tunnel is three hundred times higher.

00:47:39 No bureaucratic formalities.

00:51:25 The houses are knocked down one by one and buried.

00:55:37 Here's one of the armored vehicles.

01:00:17 Double layers of protection on the hands.

01:05:34 Everything was covered in lead.

01:10:05 A tomb... A mausoleum...

01:14:19 When the liquidators went back home, they were exhausted, incapable of going back to a normal life.

01:18:31 The tendency to manipulate the numbers was not unique to the Soviets.

01:22:37 Today, eight million people live in contaminated areas of Ukraine, Russia and especially Belorussia.

01:26:49 Twenty years ago no one could get near this huge military radar: Moscow's hidden eye meant to spot American missiles.

01:30:35 An international fund led by Hans Blix has been set up.