Who were the doomed firefighters, first on the scene after the Chernobyl explosion? What forced the Soviets to come clean about the disaster? How did the USSR sacrifice Belarussian farmers to stop nuclear rain falling on Moscow? Why did this secret take 13 years to come out? 

Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga look at the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl meltdown. 

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Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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