SSTC NRS presented Nikolai Steinberg’s book «Our Long Road to April»
On April 22, the presentation of Nikolai Steinberg’s book «Our Long Road to April», dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, took place in Kyiv. The event gathered industry experts, the author’s colleagues from his time at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP), as well as everyone interested in the history of the disaster and nuclear safety issues.
During the presentation, Nikolai Steinberg – one of the direct participants in the events and the former Chief Engineer of the ChNPP – shared his personal memories and professional insights into the causes of the accident. He joined the construction of the plant back in 1971, when there was nothing but a forest and a river on the site. By 1986 he was already participating in the mitigation of the disaster’s consequences. This life path formed the basis of the profound reflections on the events presented in the book.
The event featured an open conversation with the author, structured around the book’s key issues. The discussion focused particularly on the reasons behind the emergence of the first official version of the accident, which remained dominant for a long time despite its oversimplified and convenient nature. The author emphasised that this version was advantageous for both the Soviet system and certain elements of the international community, as it enabled them to attribute all blame to the operating personnel.
A separate part of the discussion was dedicated to analysing the factual data that contradicted the official version of events. According to Mr. Steinberg, the operating parameters of the reactor, as recorded by the instruments, proved that the accident was not the result of operator error. Rather, the design features of the reactor played a key role – specifically, the impact of the emergency protection system, which, under certain conditions, actually facilitated the progression of the accident. This became one of the main arguments when the root causes of the disaster were reconsidered.
The discussion also touched upon the systemic cover-up of problems associated with RBMK-type reactors. The author emphasised that there had been «warning signs» even before 1986, most notably the accident at the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant in 1975. However, due to the closed nature of the system, this information was not properly taken into account. «Secrecy made a significant contribution to our road to April», Mr. Steinberg writes in his book.
Considerable attention was also paid to the issue of responsibility. The author discussed the trial of the ChNPP management, arguing that it was conducted hastily and based on oversimplified conclusions. In his book he attempts to rectify this by demonstrating the systemic nature of the accident’s causes and removing the stigma of «primary culprits» from the operators.
Mr. Steinberg showed his exam preparation notebook from 1982, in which he had outlined the exact sequence of events that would lead to the disaster at the ChNPP four years later. «Looking at these calculations today, any fourth-year engineering student would tell you that this reactor would perform poorly and that an explosion was inevitable. Back then, no one said it out loud», he shared.
The broader context of the disaster was also discussed during the presentation. Mr. Steinberg expressed the view that Chornobyl was not only a man-made disaster, but a moral one too. It exposed the deep-rooted problems of the Soviet system, particularly the way truth was subordinated to political expediency.
«The book has been published exactly 40 years after the accident because, finally, there is documentary evidence on which to rely and speak more objectively. At the same time, I see it as my personal duty to my colleagues, as well as my contribution to training a new generation of engineers who must understand that safety issues cannot be compromised», Nikolai Steinberg summarised.
«The book has been published exactly 40 years after the accident because today there is finally an opportunity to rely on documentary evidence and speak more objectively. At the same time, I see it as my personal duty to my colleagues, as well as my contribution to training a new generation of engineers who must understand that safety issues cannot be compromised», Nikolai Steinberg concluded.
The author thanked the Ukrainian Defense Forces for their protection and the opportunity to hold such events during the full-scale invasion. During the event participants raised over UAH 8,000 to fund antenna masts for the 59th Separate Assault Battalion of Unmanned Systems.
Everyone in attendance had the opportunity to ask the author questions. The lively discussion and the audience’s keen interest proved the topic’s ongoing relevance, even four decades after the tragedy. After the formal part of the event, attendees could get an autograph from Nikolai Steinberg.
For those interested in the book, we would like to remind you that you can pre-order the English version of Nikolai Steinberg’s book «Our Long Road to April» via the link.
According to SSTC NRS
Photo provided by SSTC NRS