[falserum]

> Ignored by everyone in the Soviet scientific establishment and nuclear authorities. I don't know what's worse, a secret police intervention or a whole science and industry community ignoring safety concerns until it is too late.

“Whole .. community” is a stretch here.

Keep in mind that information spread is different in ussr. Kgb had people recruited from all over the place (from factory workers to politicians; 0.1% of population were in kgb). Also, lot of institutions had party representative present (officially, not hidden).

Press did not report accidents or significantly under-report casualties, and of course various good metrics were inflated a lot, even to comical levels.

In this environment, somebody using his influence in kgb or party to stop certain restrictions (because they would point to design flaw and would delay stuff) is very believable, and probably common.

Conspiracy in ussr != conspiracy in us.

[hef19898]

Well, that the whole community of nuclear scientists, engineers and operators ignored the design flaws of RBMK reactors was an indirect conclusion of the two late 80s investigation boards the USSR (!) put in place. Read the annexes to INSAG-7, you can even find the design bureaus and directors named in there.

The KGB blocking the refit of the RBMK fleet is a myth from HBOs Chernobyl series. Truth is rather different, Legasov was seen by the younger generation as part of the establishment that held back modifications, while he simultaniously managed to piss off said establishment. And without support from the rank and file, and some enemies with the higher ups, his career was shot. Compounded by serious health issues following the Chernobyl clean up. Less dramatic than a KBG conspiracy for sure, but still bad enough.