There was no solution to the Chernobyl accident. The USSR was relentlessly keeping the accident confidential. Radiation spread quickly, and the news broke. Although desperately needing it, the Soviets didn’t accept help from any country. The first liquidators on the scene were Firefighters. The firefighters sprayed water on reactor 4 only to be evaporated from the heat, the steam from the water then carried radiation into the atmosphere, creating a larger problem. The world noticed the problem when radiation was detected by other power plants in the surrounding area. Massive amounts of radiation were detected when nothing had harmed the other plants. Unknowing of the radiation leaking, the first liquidators were exposed to incredible levels of radiation. Realizing water wasn’t the solution, helicopters began dropping sand, dirt, and other materials onto the fires. The fires had ceased, but the power plant was still leaking radiation. Other than the firefighters, volunteer liquidators cleansed the roofs and the surrounding area of radioactive graphite blocks and other materials spread all over the plant. Liquidators cleansed the area in short, two-minute shifts.

          Soon an unknown problem captured the Soviets' attention.  Underneath the 4th reactor sat a water deposit. These water deposits are typically used to cool the reactor. But now it was endangering the human race. If the incredibly hot radioactive material in the reactor burned through the concrete base, it would generate a steam explosion devastating to the human race. The solution was suicidal. 3 volunteers of the names Alexei Ananenko, Valeri Bezpalov, and Boris Baranov rose to the occasion. Their task was to dive into the highly radioactive water beneath the reactor to drain the deposit. The valve to drain the water could only be turned off manually. Ananenko (Mechanical Engineer), Bezpalov (Senior Engineer), and Boris (Shift Supervisor) gathered flashlights and wetsuits, then dove into the deadly waters. The 3 brave and courageous men prevented what would have been a devastating explosion, and received little recognition. The group will later be recognized as the suicide squad. At the same time, concrete was poured onto the reactor to stop the leaking radiation. The concrete was only the short term solution…