CHERNOBYL, – A sign reading “e26 operating” stands at the entrance to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, known in Russian as “Чернобыльская АЭС” (ЧАЭС). Reactor 4 was crippled by a catastrophic accident on April 26, 1986, and never reopened. The plant’s remaining reactors—Blocks 1, 2, and 3—continued operating until Block 3 finally shut down in 2000. (Photo by [Contributor Name]/[Agency]) This tragic event has been captured extensively in CHERNOBYL stock footage.
At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant—known in Russian as “Чернобыльская АЭС” (ЧАЭС)—one reactor would forever bear the mark of catastrophe. On April 26, 1986, Reactor Block 4 suffered a catastrophic failure that led to its immediate shutdown and permanent closure. The catastrophic event is often shown in CHERNOBYLfootage.
Operational History Post-1986:
- Block 4: The site of the disaster, never restarted after the accident. Many CHERNOBYLfootage scenes focus on this area.
- Blocks 1, 2, and 3: Continued operating in the aftermath of the tragedy.
- Block 2: Shut down in 1991.
- Block 1: Ceased operations in 1996.
- Block 3: Notably, this reactor remained in operation until 2000, making it the last unit to shut down at the plant.
After the catastrophic accident on April 26, 1986, which permanently shut down Block 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ЧАЭС), the remaining units—Blocks 1, 2, and 3—continued to operate until Block 3 finally ceased operations in 2000. This exclusive archival footage captures the aftermath and ongoing activities at one of history’s most infamous nuclear sites.
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