Military liquidators in liquidation of the consequences of Chornobyl NPP accident: myths and realities

Twenty years have passed after the Chornobyl accident, but its consequences are so immense that even now some facts are still not sufficiently investigated and being a subject for analysis by specialists on radiation protection and emergency response. In this article we will present the available information and our considerations concerning advisability and results of many thousands of military contingents that were involved in liquidation of the Chornobyl NPP accident consequences (LAC). Some historical information on military involvement into LAC works Since 1986 the participants of LAC mission were termed “liquidators ” in abbreviation form. Then this expression migrated to mass-media and later on to scientific publications. Military liquidators mustered from reserve sometimes are termed “partisans”. Overwhelming majority of liquidators was comprised of such “partisans”. When the Chornobyl accident happened in 1986, the National (State) system of prevention and response for man-caused emergency situations was not established in USSR [1]. Independently establishments and departments formed response systems for emergency conditions at their best. Missile Forces of strategic destination and Naval Forces armed by nuclear armaments and defence technology with transport nuclear power units had object and territorial systems of prevention an