From archives of VUChK-GPU-NKVD-KGB Chernobyl tragedy in documents and materials

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant named after V.I.Lenin, as an industrial object of strategic importance, was under the permanent supervision of KGB organs from the first day of its construction. In the process of regular investigations by the KGB personnel in the pre-disaster period numerous facts were revealed of bad construction work quality, supply of faulty equipment, violation of technical rules of operation, violation of fire and radiation protection rules. Reports on these cases were presented to the management of the Chernobyl NPP and highest party (Communist Party - VT) and government authorities of the Ukrainian SSR and former USSR. Already at 2:30 am on 26 April 1986, after the message about explosion and subsequent fire on Chernobyl NPP was received, investigators from KGB of Ukrainian SSR were dispatched to the city of Pripiat and Chernobyl NPP. On the same day the accident on the NPP was reported to the high command of KGB of USSR. During first five years after the accident 1,500 officers of KGB of Ukrainian SSR and hundreds of KGB officers from other republics of USSR participated in investigation of causes and the work on liquidation of the consequences of the disaster. Specific feature of the documents of the soviet secret services related to the Chernobyl catastrophe is that they present a complex picture, unlike materials of other government agencies that are concentrated on narrow special issues. This allows for producing a rather full and systematic analysis of all spectrum of Chernobyl problems. In preparation of this special edition (of Archives of KGB - VT), the most characteristic and informational deep documents were selected. They provide integral picture not only about pre-conditions, circumstances and consequences of the accident, but also about problems and mistakes during localization and liquidation of the consequences of the accident. Documents are presented in chronological order covering the period from 1971 to 1988. (author)