“[The Kremlin, Moscow: Legasov and Ulana Khomyuk explain the consequences of a nuclear meltdown with full water tanks] Ulana Khomyuk: When the lava enters these tanks, it will instantly superheat and vaporize approximately 7,000 cubic meters of water, causing a significant thermal explosion.…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[Legasov and Shcherbina faces incredulous workers as they ask for volunteers in a suicidal mission to open the sluice gate valve] You'll do it because nobody else can. And if you don't, millions will die. If you tell me that's not enough I won't believe you. This is what has always set our people…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[Polissya hotel, Pripyat: Helicopters dropping sand and boron to extinguish the fire in the Chernobyl plant] Shcherbina: It's been smooth. Twenty drops. [notices Legasov's expression] What? Legasov: There are fifty thousand people in this city. Shcherbina: Professor Ilyin, who's also on the…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[Inside a military jeep, as Fomin and Bryukhanov prepare to meet Shcherbina...] Fomin: It's overkill. Pikalov's showing off to make us look bad. Bryukhanov: It doesn't matter how it looks. Shcherbina is a pure bureaucrat, as stupid as he is pigheaded. We'll tell him the truth in the simplest terms…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[Colonel General Pikalov returns from the testing to give his report] Pikalov: It's not three roentgen. It's 15,000. Bryukhanov: Comrade Shcherbina— Shcherbina: [Turns to Legasov] What does that number mean? Legasov: It means the core is open. It means the fire we're watching with our own eyes is…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[As Valery Legasov and Boris Shcherbina make their way to Chernobyl in a helicopter...] Boris Shcherbina: How does a nuclear reactor work? Valery Legasov: What? Shcherbina: It's a simple question. Legasov: It's hardly a simple answer. Shcherbina: Of course, you presume I'm too stupid to understand.…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[Legasov and Shcherbina's helicopter approaches the Chernobyl plant] Legasov: [Sees the reactor, horrified] What have they done? Shcherbina: Can you see inside? Legasov: I don't have to. Look. That's graphite on the roof. The whole building's been blown open. The core's exposed! Shcherbina: I can't…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Uranium, Fission, U-235
“[The Kremlin, Moscow: Valery Legasov enters the room with General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and Deputy Chairman Boris Shcherbina] Mikhail Gorbachev: Thank you all for your duty to this commission. We will begin with Deputy Chairman Shcherbina's briefing, and then we will discuss next steps if…”Tagged: Chernobyl, Nuclear Reactors, Comrade, Uranium