The Dark Side of Chernobyl

This channel has always focused on telling the true stories of the disaster, be it Chernobyl or otherwise. We’ve done a lot on this, from examining the chain of events leading up to the explosion, to the actions of operators on the day of the disaster. But it would be impossible to tell the true story without also examining the other side – what was happening at the Nuclear Power Plant. These are the forgotten elements of Chernobyl, ones that many might claim influenced the scale of the disaster.

[captaindreadnought]

me 10 years go: how did chernobyl explode?

me right now: how did chernobly not explode sooner???

[robertgaines-tulsa]

Sounds like the nuclear power plant in The Simpsons was safer than Chernobyl.

[lboyadgiev]

When Chernobyl guy started mentioning accidents at the CNPP.
And after 5 accidents he didn't stop listing accidents I knew today was gonna be special💀

[ChevyTahoe]

Lmao imagine entering the control room and seeing everything missing because some random dude stole everything 💀

[Red-Magic]

Imagine trying to resign or retire, and when you hand in your resignation letter your boss tears it to pieces in front of you, and then tells you to get back to work. That's insane

[erikziak]

Listening to the sheer amount of things being stolen during construction. Like in Czechoslovakia in those years. There was a saying: One who does not steal (state owned things), is stealing from his own family. During every construction material was "lost". Many family houses, cottages and huts were build with nobody asking where the material for their construction came from, yet everyone knew where they came from. It was absolutely "the norm" that a construction of any facility needed way more concrete, bricks, panels, etc. than was in the plan for said facility. Regardless if it was a power plant, culture house, school or hospital. The amount of raw materials used to finish any structure was much higher than what was actually physically used on the site. At least the structure to be built was finished within norms, according to plan, only the material consumption was way bigger. Not like some countries that placed empty oil cans into what were supposed to be reinforced concrete structural walls. Or even if not as bad, cutting costs by reducing the amount of rebar or changing material properties for cheaper ones. Because price was not relevant. Things were built to specifications and nobody had any incentive not to do so. Because nobody checked where and how material "disappeared" during construction. Raw material was being delivered until it was done according to plan.

[harrisonallton]

"Three units are ready, with another well on the way." 😂😂
I see what you did there.

[milklk]

I think someone else built his own rbmk 1000 reactor at home If so much material and equipment was stolen 💀

[jasondrinovsky]

I have studied Chernobyl for years. I knew reactor 3 had a near meltdown, but I was not aware all the other accidents and/or stupidity happened there over the years. Probably because the focus is always on reactor 4.

[basedgodstrugglin]

The thumbnail is hilarious, absolutely brilliant

[RocketGurney]

Babe wakeup, new analysis of Soviet bureaucratic failure just dropped.

[DougPaulley]

I saw this title and thought "is there a bright side of Chernobyl?" But yes, there is; your excellent videos.

[daniellassander]

The thumbnail and the title of the video is absolutely brilliant!

[Litepaw]

We are all carrying Chernobyl inside us. I remember volunteering for an isotope body scan in high school for STUK (the radiation safety association of Finland) when I was 16. My cesium-137 levels were elevated and overall body radiation double the normal levels because we had eaten tons of sauces and foods made from local mushrooms the summer before. It was 15 years ago so the dose from that cesium has built up quite a bit compared to the average person.

[stanislavkos]

24:36 Imagine that you are constantly dealing with accidents and thefts of equipment just to find out that the canteen just exploded

[ericatkinson]

You need to write a book on Chernobyl. I would sure as hell buy it.

[CJC]

I’d love to see you do a deep dive into the Kyshtym Disaster. It seems like all of the videos on YouTube are either dated or barebones. I love the details you provide so I understand if it may be difficult for you to dig into any Soviet archives from the 50’s.

[marsmediainfo]

Now this makes more sense:
Another time, Tolya woke up suddenly, ran to a window that was cracked open, and said, “Look, the doors are open! They’ll loot everything, and we won’t be able to finish the reactor!” And I said, “Go to sleep. I’ll take watch.” He went back to bed, and again didn’t remember anything in the morning.

[jimmymiller]

Thanks so much for posting such a Great Video. I had no idea how bad it was. All my best, Jim

[ChrisMatthewson]

Fun connection: The Dark Side of the Moon contained a track called "Money" and it would seem that a lack of that was the main cause of The Dark Side of Chernobyl.