Beautiful sunny day … it was May after all … yet that explosion a few days before, sounded horrific, even from our countryside retreat … we had no idea what had happened …
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| Petrichor Raindrop hitting the earth |
… then our world started to fall apart – but we did not know it – even that was kept secret …
… planes flew across us in the azure sky … contrails appeared – all as usual … yet clouds suddenly appeared …
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| Heavy rain clouds |
… thick, heavy, thundrous-looking ones – where had they come from …? ... certainly not something our agricultural relatives expected …
Our sunny sky had disappeared, the heavens opened, buckets of black rain came torrenting down …
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| Torrential downpour |
It was our family time … where had this downpour, that didn't stop, come from …
We were in the corner that is now north Ukraine, south-west Russia and eastern Belarus – today it is known as the 'fall-out area' …
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| Showing cloud movement beyond Novozybkovsky, in the Fall-Out Area |
Nearly 40 years later we found out … why our families had been moved out, why it rained and why we've never been allowed to go back to our ancestral lands …
TOP SECRET
– A HARD RAIN'S GONNA FALL –
no-one is to know …
Extra notes:
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| Info-pic on seed clouding |
… over the Chernobyl explosion in 1986. The winds in late April were south-westerlies blowing towards Sweden and northern Europe …
The Politburo required that on the change of wind direction towards Moscow's Military Victory Day Parade … the clouds be seeded …
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| Fall out area - as wind direction changed |
The planes barrelled across the May skies, shooting projectiles, fitted with silver iodide into the highly radioactive clouds that were being 'driven' by the now south-east winds … which ultimately caused that deluge of biblical proportions falling on and contaminating the beautiful area known as ancient Russia …
That HARD RAIN is still affecting the fall-out area … which has now been churned up by the Soviet tanks … STUPIDITY still prevails with no concern for the common man …
The storyline idea came from a two-part tv programme on Chernobyl … and obviously events happening today …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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I imagine the people there had no idea what had happened.
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary! Brilliant. Often people have no idea what's happening. Which must increase the terror. You nailed the prompt. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYet another heartrending truth. When will we ever learn. Do we have time for those lessons to take...
ReplyDeleteThe Soviet government had always lied to its own people. Now, its worthy descendant, the Russian government, keeps up the tradition. They are still lying to their own people.
ReplyDeleteA powerful post.
One half of my family came from Mariupol, 706 km from Chernobyl. Because they were already well and truly settled in Australia long before the catastrophic explosion in 1986, I had forgotten the connection. Now I am looking at their homes and schools with new, tragic eyes.
ReplyDelete@ Liz - I'm sure the Ukrainians had no idea what was to come ...
ReplyDelete@ Denise - thank you ... I just sincerely hope the Chernobyl plant and others won't be exploited ... I was just interested to read the history of 1986 ...
@ EC - thank you ... it seemed a truth that needed mentioning at this time and appropriate for this prompt ...
@ Olga - yes ... the Soviet government are still lying all of the time ... and most importantly, as you mention, to their own people. Thank you ...
@ Hels - Mariupol seems to have been a beautiful city - it is just desperate the destruction and psychological damage that's being imposed on the democratic country of Ukraine and its people ...
Thanks so much to you all - this was an informative post for me to write ... especial as I could make it appropriate for the prompt ... all the best - Hilary
Such a timely story, Hilary. Recently, at a Red Cross exhibit, I saw some photos taken at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It's difficult to believe or understand what people will do to each other.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteOh, Hilary, you disappear for a bit then come back with this... excellent post. YAM xx
Excellent and frightening, Hilary. These tragic moments are so hard to understand from a distance. You brought it to life.
ReplyDeleteI think that most of us of an age to remember Chernobyl do so with the same feeling of dread as we did when the catastrophic event happened. Now it is being used like a plaything by the Russians invading the sovereign territory of Ukraine and brutalizing its people. If there is a way to display historic amnesia, and to find a way to attack and kill each other we will do it. Excellent post, as always, Hilary.
ReplyDeleteThings happen without warning, without reason. What's occuring now is only the start. Heaven help them.
ReplyDeleteSo well done, Hilary. We don't often know what is happening. Sometimes ignorance is bliss - for a little while.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the human capacity for cruelty
There is a 4 part documentary on Chernobyl on Netflix that I saw a year or so ago Hilary ... it's worthwhile accessing if you can. (Actually I've just had a check - seems as there are a few series ... the one I saw does not seem available ..)
ReplyDelete@ Deniz - thank you ... I just thought it was appropriate for today. I haven't ever wanted to 'look at' Hiroshima or Nagasaki - other than the knowledge one acquires growing up. Your Red Cross exhibition must have been interesting ...
ReplyDeleteThe Florence Nightingale Museum is re-opening with a Crimean War display ... and another on Nightingale in 200 objects, people and places ...
@ Yam - once I saw the tv programmes (two of them) - I felt I needed to find out more, and perhaps the fact the 'black nuclear reactive wind was being seeded to produce rain' ... rather than let nature take its course - when it might have rained on their Parade contaminating Moscovites - and so guided me with the prompt for 'hard rain' ...
I'd been in South Africa in 1986 when it happened ... so only knew the basics - it was informative to find out more ...
@ Dan - yes very frightening ... when no-one in the regime knows what's going on, and each level has more restrictions placed on it - it 'mirrors' what's being set up by a "human being" - though I can't call him that, he's most definitely not human ...
@ David - yes ... but I was in South Africa, so very far away from it all. It's appalling what he's doing to the Ukrainians, and also to his own military - they'll have been contaminated - as they've been sleeping in the zone, and stirring up the soil ... which spreads the spores ...
Like you I cannot contemplate why Putin is seeking to emulate Stalin and eliminate in this instance Ukraine - pulverising it ... I'm not sure how it'll end ... thank you for the comment ...
@ Keith - yes I hate to think what is going to happen - it's totally horrific - and Heaven Help Them all ...
@ Jemi - good to see you ... I just felt the information was appropriate for this prompt - it only came about because I watched the Channel 4 two-part series on Chernobyl ...
Thanks so much to you all - Ukraine is suffering unbearably ... and for what ... one man's ego? and then what - I dread to think ... like you all I don't understand man's ability to be so cruel, uncaring and thoughtless ... let's hope for their and our future - Hilary
You nailed the normal-ness of a day which changed so many lives. Great story.
ReplyDelete@ Thanks Susan - you popped in just as I was posting this ... the Channel 4 one was very good indeed ... and I'm sure there must be others. I'm not on Netflix anymore ... once I came back to the UK, I gave it up. I'm glad you had a chance to watch the Netflix one ... it's the secrecy of the Russian hierarchy ... frightening ... cheers and good to see you - Hilary
ReplyDelete@ Annalisa - another one who slipped through as I was replying to Susan's comment ...
ReplyDeleteThank you - not being in the UK at that stage ... I didn't know much, nor needed to - but Putin invading Ukraine and getting his troops to curtail movement in and out of Chernobyl for 3 weeks - it needs constant monitoring - those workers are dedicated ... and I was pleased to learn more ...
Thank you for commenting ... Hilary
What a hook. A similar 'hard rain' falls after volcanic eruptions of note, but not as deadly. Just painful.
ReplyDeleteMy mom died later in 1986, so I remember being in Sweden that year.
ReplyDeleteA Hard Rain, indeed. It really affected my home country. Thank you for the reminder, as I'm right now concerned that the next Hard Rain may not be accidental.
Brilliant post Hilary and reading David's comments he has pretty much said what I was going to say. Russia is playing very dangerous games, a leader who is not prepared to lose face, he still thinks he can take over wherever, and whenever it suits him. A very sad story and so many unnecessary deaths of people who are just trying to live a peaceful life. My heart goes out to them. Cheers Diane
ReplyDelete@ Jacqui - thank you ... it fitted so well to the 'Hard Rain' prompt - I'd no idea what had happened back then ... and the series was horrific to watch and understand what had (and not) happened ...
ReplyDelete... and you're right - after an earthquake ... similar happens, but not seeded by humans ...
@ Inger - I wondered if you were home when this happened - it must have been very worrying. The Hard Rain fell over the Scandinavian area and northern Europe, before the wind changed direction sending the clouds towards Russia.
I sincerely hope there won't be another 'Hard Rain' - but the administration of Chernobyl needs to be ongoing ... if human interference sets the next one off - I'm not sure where any of us will be.
@ Diane - Yes - it's really frightening for Europe and the rest of the world ... whereas for Ukraine, I so feel for them - it must be appalling. I admire them all.
Putin, on his own, is playing a very unfair, selfish game - as you say a sad story indeed ... with far too many deaths, injuries and then the flattened buildings and land - what on earth for ... a man's ego.
As Diane says - my heart goes out to Ukraine ... and thank you all for visiting and appreciating the post ... Hilary
It's truly sad for all the people and animals affected. We know so much today about renewable energy, it begs to question why any country would seek nuclear power plants.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Stupidity - you are right. Deadly stupidity. It’s terrifying.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a clever way to weave in the facts of that terrible event with WEP.
ReplyDeleteThe ordinary person in the street is often in the dark about what is happening, which is sad and distressing for all affected, a bloody good post
ReplyDeleteWow...that must have been a terrifying experience. I can vaguely remember hearing about this on the news. Well done and very visually moving!
ReplyDeleteYou absolutely nailed the prompt, Hilary! Chernobyl was so scary, even sitting thousands of miles away... another was Bhopal.
ReplyDeletePeople most affected by such manmade catastrophes are the least likely to know their long term impact, they're just coolly kept in the dark for profit or power.
Brilliant and heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThe people impacted by such disasters all too often do not know what happened. I can only imagine the horror of living through the events that followed the Chernobyl explosion. Thank you for sharing this powerful story with us!
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting!
ReplyDelete@ Nancy - thank you ... that part of ancient Kievan-Rus is contaminated now for many a year. The nuclear plants in Russia/Ukraine were conceived before the 1990s ... when it was still Eastern Europe. The dangers of the probability of an explosion were sent upline, more than once - but were ignored ... hence the disaster that occurred.
ReplyDelete@ Alex - thank you ... the prompt hit home once I'd see the documentary ... it was exceedingly informative - about how selfish people in control can be and are ...
@ Jo-Anne - thank you ...
@ Carrie-Ann - I was in South Africa so didn't know what was happening in Europe, except to realise it was a dreadful deadly accident ...
@ Nila - thank you ... I imagine Bhopal was much worse ... 3,000 dead and chemical burns ... amazingly Chernobyl ended up being not so bad, and the main cancers have been thyroid, which even then was treatable.
The worst part, as you mention, is the secrecy by the powers that be - not being truthful, nor enlightening their citizens, or the world about the explosion ... that secrecy was worse ...
... then now - letting their troops disturb the contaminated ground, and sleep on that earth ... and corralling the Chernobyl engineers, who have to maintain and keep the reactors at a safe working level - which was a close shave this year ...
We could do with honest leaders, who keep us updated and informed ... on these catastrophes ... and who care for their citizens ...
@ Donna - thank you for reading and being here ...
@ Laura - yes, you're right, the people impacted by these sorts of disasters do not understand, nor are they informed. It is a powerful update - I was so interested in the documentary ...
@ John - it was a 2-part documentary ... that is and was so informative and interesting.
Thank you all for being here, engaging with the story, and commenting - much appreciated ... cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary. I've watched the series. Reminds me of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy here in India. Brilliantly done.
ReplyDelete-Sonia
A bridge too far, but then, Putin likes doing that. I used to think he was motivated by pro Russia. Now...
ReplyDeleteOh, never mind...
@ Sonia - it sounds like there are quite a few documentaries on that Chernobyl Explosion ... and I'm sure the Bhopal one - which was terrible and so sad for so many - the Chernobyl one particularly interested me, due to the fact nothing's changed since 1917 ... when the control aspect came in via Lenin and then Stalin.
ReplyDelete@ Jacqui - this wasn't in Putin's day ... it was before ... but granted Putin, KGB agent, is embroiled in the 'left overs' of the secret police.
The history of the Chronology of Soviet Police Agencies makes for an interesting read.
But each and every person was informed on ... and those archives about the Chernobyl plant and subsequent explosion, then all reporting and stats etc - all 'hidden away' ...
The two part documentary was a very interesting watch ...
Thanks to the two of you - and for being here - cheers Hilary
Hello Hillary,
ReplyDeleteHow are you, this is Lisa from Live High, don't think you remember me. I hope you are well and in good health. So great to see you are going strong blogging, wish I had never stopped.
It's so unsettling when the wars hit, and they always hit. :(
ReplyDeleteWonderful job with the prompt, Hilary, and a chilling piece because the readers know the backstory.
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well!
Heart breaking story
ReplyDelete@ Lisa - thank you for remembering me - I'm sorry that you're not still blogging - perhaps you can start again? ...
ReplyDelete@ Rosey - good to see you here ... war-life is definitely very unsettling at the moment and desperately sad ...
@ Elizabeth - thank you ... it helped me understand a bit more about Chernobyl, yet also learning how cruel the soviet system of secrecy is ...
@ Sally - very heart- breaking ...
Thank you for visiting - take care and stay safe ... here's to peace in all war zones - all the best - Hilary
Unbelievable the horrors these people have been through. And it still continues, day in and day out. What cruel creatures we human beings are. Is no one powerful enough to put a stop to it?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hilary!
Such a heartbreaking story Hilary. It is hard to fathom what those poor people are going through on top of all they've suffered over the years. Happy Earth Day - maybe someday this world will be a kinder place to live in. Fil
ReplyDelete@ Renee - it is appalling and just desperately sad - and aren't some of us cruel beyond belief. I would hope that influential Russians will put pressure on Putin to hold back and give life a choice ... but it seems no-one dares 'criticise' him ... frightening to say the least.
ReplyDelete@ Fil - it is so heartbreaking and continues to be so ... I trouble to think what they're all going through ... sounds horrifically ghastly ...
Yes Earth day was Friday ... and I hope we will all look after it - but reading the Chernobyl archives was sadly depressing - I'm glad I watched the programmes.
Thanks to the two of you - we do live in uncertain times - all the best - Hilary
This was a clever response to the prompt. Heartbreaking of course. I watched the 6 part docu-series on Chernobyl, the authorities went to great lengths to hush everything up, endangering so many people in the process.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kalpana - yes ... our programmes here, must have been of similar ilk ... talk about control - really awful for us to consider.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness the research was allowed before the recent invasion and destruction ... who knows where it's going to stop.
Thank you re the response to the prompt - I thought it'd make sense to participants in the blog-hop.
Great to see you - cheers Hilary
Wow! There's a twist on history I hadn't heard about. Imagine not even knowing what's going on? I think information not streaming for even an hour would cause total chaos in the world now. Mobile network down? Internet not working? Pretty sure everyone under age 40 would go mad in minutes. Riot in the street crazy.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'm in America. It doesn't take much to tip half the people here into riots or protests.
Brilliant entry Hilary, like the opening of a book of a horrible tale, and sadly, not too many learn from history. <3
ReplyDelete@ JLenni - today ... in Russia they don't know what's going on, or in China - but they don't have freedom in so many ways. Historically I was interested to find out how much was recorded and at least find out about it before the Russians might have destroyed the records.
ReplyDelete@ Debby - I'm sure the concept has been used as a back story ... and it replicates Russian history after the Russian Revolution from 1917 - 1932 and on into the 2nd World War ...
Thanks to you both - I enjoyed (if that's the right word) to find out about it ... while being able to bring it to life for this prompt. Cheers - Hilary
Spine-chilling if you think about it. Well written. I remember it well when it happened We were not able to eat the vegies from the land for quite a while because of it
ReplyDeleteStunning, heartrending and well-written. It just never truly ends does it?
ReplyDelete@ Marja - yes completely spine-chilling. I was in South Africa, so didn't experience the fall out or effects of it ...
ReplyDelete@ Sandra - sadly it never ends ... I can't believe what's happening ...
Thanks so much to you both - it is awful and what's to come - I hate to think for the poor Ukrainians ... Hilary
Chernobyl was such a nightmare. I've watched several documentaries about it. This brief piece sums up unspeakable moments of horror very well.
ReplyDeleteSecrecy pervades everything. Strange, how life goes on!
ReplyDeleteI hav heard and read a lot about chernobyl. Ur words capture the tragedy quite well..history of horror keeps occuring in a loop :(
ReplyDeleteDropping by from a to z "The Pensive"
and that's a whoa from me! Late to comment. Was in PA visiting my father and the week turned dicey after dad had a bout of Covid. He's okay, thanks to vax plus he's tough.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens, good woman! This scared my socks off.
ReplyDeleteSuperb storytelling, dear Hilary. If only there wasn't so much truth to it.
Sending cyber smiles your way and wishes for a pleasant day ;-)
Wow so vivid.
ReplyDeleteI had a few friends who lived outside of the blast area but family were too close. Another Ukrainian friend has a sister born with no legs because her father flew over Chernobyl months afterward.
The Ukrainians take alot of direct and indirect hits.
The story I'm still penning for A to Z deals with the war now War Torn
@ Charlotte - I imagine Chernobyl was dreadful for those here in the northern European areas in 1986/7 ... I'm glad I brought the 'silence' to life ...
ReplyDelete@ Pradeep - it's dreadful to read about 'life - where cruelty reigns' - and it's kept secret ... but life, as you mention, elsewhere does go on ...
@ Afshan - good to meet you ... I'm pleased the post resonated re your knowledge of the horror ... thank you.
@ Diedre - well it's fairly horrifying to put it mildly - and one hates to think what's happening now and when the information will be properly made pubic ...
It is as you say appalling ... the truth will come out ...
@ Moondust - good to see you ... and thank you for your link to your storyline about Russian horrors being perpetrated in Ukraine ... I'll be back to read through your A-Z ...
Thanks to you all - it is just so difficult for us to contemplate the horrors of Ukraine happening to us - appreciate your comments and thoughts - Hilary
This is powerful and something I wasn't aware of. Great job putting yourself there. Another horrific detail with current imapct.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon - I'm glad I highlighted the story ... I must say I learnt a lot, especially as I was in South Africa at the time. The Ukraine scenario is just ghastly ... too sad - thanks for the visit - Hilary
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your win Hilary! Your story was so well crafted, and different from the other entries.
ReplyDeleteHi Kalpana - thanks for your support ... I'm delighted to receive the 'Encouragement Award' for this post/entry to the WEP series ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete