Chernobyl’s Apocalypse Trucks, Built to Survive Extreme Radiation | Chornobyl Uncharted Ep 06

In this episode of Chornobyl Uncharted, we explore the rather little-known story of the KRAZ-256B1-030 trucks, specially built for the most dangerous mission on Earth: transporting radioactive debris from the Chernobyl disaster site. After the explosion at Chernobyl’s Unit 4 reactor, tons of highly radioactive debris needed to be moved to containment, and regular vehicles simply couldn't handle the extreme radiation levels. A new kind of machine was needed – one capable of surviving lethal radiation while protecting the driver.

In 1986, the engineers at KrAZ in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, took on the challenge, led by design engineer Viktor Kholyavko. They created the lead-lined, radiation-shielded truck that could withstand the apocalypse-level conditions at Chernobyl. In this video, we uncover the unique design of these trucks, including the heavily armored driver’s cabin, the specialized ventilation systems, and the various field modifications tried and tested in the radioactive zone.

00:00 – Ten Sieverts Behind Your Back
00:53 – The Design
03:06 – Memories of the First Test Drive
04:21 – Amphibious Transporters for Very, Very "Hot" Containers
05:45 – Pidlisny Radioactive Repository
06:48 – The Unclear Fate of Monster Trucks
07:28 – Furious KRAZes of Today’s Chernobyl
09:03 – What’s Next

[thesayxx]

@2:15 there also had to compensate the load bearing of the design due to the weight of the massive balls of the drivers that operated these machines. :D
All jokes aside, eternal glory to the Liquidators. Real life heroes, every single one of them.

[kerbsidemotors]

The dedication to an enormous task, liquidator's were true hero's of an unimaginable point in history. I remember as a child the Western news on TV- only decades later did the full horror and sacrifices become clear.
Thank you for a wonderful explanation of efforts made by many.

[mikepartin]

Always fascinating, I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you all are doing. Even in the face of war, you're making sure the history and knowledge is preserved. It's bloody epic is what it is, and to paraphrase Neal Stephenson, you are a group of what can only be described as `Stupendous Badasses`.

[Damien.D]

Imagine being a lead-armored truck driver and being promoted at a "fancy lakeside resort for some landscaping work" after finishing your job in the Chornobyl Zone...

[dukenukem]

So are you going to buy KRaZ 256 and going to convert it?🙂

[Electronzap]

Great info, I always love hearing about how they decontaminate while putting people in as little risk as possible.

[thomasfx]

It’s very interesting to me that the powers that be wanted the trucks camouflaged so as to look like civilian trucks. “Nothing to see here!”

[betadev]

Thanks for the extra information on Pidlisny. I've looking for some extra info about it since that Chernobyl cameras video you've made a while ago.

Great job searching up all this information!

[DMSparky]

Great video. I find anything with equipment super interesting. You have put together great footage even of the modern trucks!

[jasonhaman]

Another excellent episode. Thank you!

[jimmymiller]

Great Video. So well put together and informative. Thanks again for all of your hard work. My Best from the US ... Jim

[iphonerefurbitalia]

Thank you very much for this interesting insight; I hope more videos will be released about the special vehicles used during the Chernobyl disaster cleanup. It would also be nice to explore and name all those silent heroes who, with their tireless work, designed and implemented these machines in a very short time. Greetings from Italy.

[erikziak]

It is very good that such less known details are being made into videos for everybody to see.

[Tomek]

Driver had easy job, imagine mechanics trying to keep it running ind suche conditions

[TeslaTales]

I never gave any thought about the vehicles needed to clean up.
Very interesting! Nice presentation.

[AN-cwyg]

I never knew about these specialized trucks. Very interesting video. I saw a few old Soviet era KRaZ when I visited Armenia.

[pavel]

Excellent video! Mandatory comment for the better reach! 😎🖖

[johnnyzippo]

As always, thank you for the content .

[IrenESorius]

Intriguing and educational, , 👍‍‍🥰👍‍‍
Thank you kindly for sharing, , 💖🙏💖

[theworkshopwhisperer.]

It was one of a kind disaster that required one of a kind technology. While understandably the human sacrifice of many who didn't know the danger they were entering is mostly talked about. I'm always more fascinated by the specially modified vehicles as well as both big and small robots couple together in the initial disaster or carefully crafted in the aftermath.