What is valery legasov?

Valery Alekseyevich Legasov (Russian: Валерий Алексеевич Легасов; 1 September 1936 – 27 April 1988) was a Soviet inorganic chemist and a member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. He is best known for his work as the chief of the commission investigating the Chernobyl disaster.

Legasov was a key figure in the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl accident, arriving at the site just a day after the explosion. He served as a crucial member of the government commission tasked with investigating the causes of the disaster and mitigating its consequences. He was instrumental in making key decisions to contain the fire and stabilize the reactor.

He insisted on the evacuation of the population of Pripyat and other areas. He provided detailed and honest reports on the Chernobyl disaster to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), despite facing pressure to downplay the severity of the event.

Legasov's eventual suicide, reportedly driven by the professional isolation and disillusionment he experienced following the disaster, made him a symbol of the struggle for truth and accountability. Before his death, he recorded tapes detailing previously unrevealed aspects of the disaster, including design flaws and bureaucratic failures. These tapes later came to light and contributed to a greater understanding of the Chernobyl accident.