Surviving Chernobyl: Former Liquidator Tells His Story 30 Years Later

When the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded in 1986, Viktor Ivkin was only a few meters away from the main control room. He suffered severe radiation burns but survived and later returned to work as a ’liquidator,’ charged with the task of cleaning up after the disaster. We meet Viktor as he returns to the control room where it all happened 30 years later to talk about that night, his thoughts on the HBO show depicting it, and what he wants people to know about the plight of liquidators. (🎥: Dima Kolchinsky)