Chernobyl conspiracy theories

Abstract

This is the first chapter to present an overview of conspiracy theories surrounding the Chernobyl disaster that took place in Soviet Ukraine in 1986. I start by introducing the general context of folk rumors, remedies, and jokes that arose following the explosion and proceed to three major conspiracy theories which emerged, one after another, to explain why it happened. First, the immediate reaction was to suspect the CIA of organizing a terrorist attack to sabotage the nuclear station and undermine Soviet power. Second, the leaders of nationalist movements, especially in Ukraine and Belarus, accused Russians, as an embodiment of Soviet power, of the deliberate genocide of Ukrainians and Belarusians via exposure to radiation. Third, conspiracy theories arose around the intentional exaggeration of Chernobyl’s negative impact, accusing mostly Ukrainians and the green power lobby of this. In the end, I demonstrate that, despite existing for decades, conspiracy theories about the Chernobyl disaster are still under construction, shaped by continuing ideological clashes, popular culture, and reemerging Cold War–like information warfare.