About the Book: Chernobyl Roulette by Serhii Plokhy offers a gripping account of the 35-day Russian occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in February 2022. On the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, armored vehicles approached the plant, initiating a perilous occupation in a region still haunted by the 1986 disaster. Plokhy narrates the ordeal through multiple perspectives, highlighting the courage and resilience of Ukrainian staff who were held hostage and worked extended shifts to prevent a potential nuclear catastrophe. Among them was Valentyn Heiko, a foreman who had also participated in the 1986 clean-up, and plant workers who found ways to maintain morale, such as celebrating International Women’s Day under dire circumstances. The narrative underscores the recklessness of the Russian forces, who, lacking knowledge of nuclear safety, disturbed contaminated zones and exposed themselves to radiation. Plokhy’s work serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of nuclear sites in conflict zones and the critical importance of safeguarding them to prevent global disaster.
