On 30 April 1986, less than four full days after the explosion that rocked the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, an official with the 5th Directorate of the Ukrainian KGB penned a Secret report based on human intelligence sources regarding wild rumors on the source of the catastrophe that had been already been spreading throughout the foreign student community in Kyiv. In his report, citing his five pseudonymous sources, Major Komarevich covered all the likely suspects being identified by the foreigners, from God to the United States.
The following is the translation of this declassified report. Foreign names have been rendered as accurately as possible.
30 April 1986
Secret
Copy No. 1
REPORT
on the mood among foreign students of higher educational institutions in Kyiv
According to incoming operational and official data, the events that took place at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are being actively discussed by foreign students and postgraduates from capitalist (231), developing (3843), and socialist (2670) countries studying in Kyiv.
The overwhelming majority of the foreigners correctly perceive the official message of the Soviet government being broadcast on radio and television regarding the accident at the nuclear power plant, and express their condolences to the victims and their families. The mood among the specified category of people, according to agents “Diplomat,” “Sergey,” “Oleg,” and operational contacts “Akhmad” and “Drakar”, is generally normal. Classes are being held schedule.
At the same time, wild rumors are being spread by some foreigners, as well as a biased interpretation of the causes of the accident at the nuclear power plant.
A number of foreigners speculate that the cause of the accident is not a breakdown in the processing procedures, but sabotage. For instance, a third-year student of the Kyiv Medical Institute, Mohamed Ftouni, in a conversation with his fellow countrymen, said: “Modern nuclear power plants have about 30 systems to protect stations from destruction. In this case, none of them worked. So this is sabotage.”
Abdallah El-Amin, a 5th year student at KMI (Lebanon), and Ibtissam Mahayni, a 1st year student at KMI (Syria), share a similar point of view.
A second-year Syrian student of KMI, Ayman Sultan, put in his own two cents’ worth: “In any country there are people who are dissatisfied with their government. Apparently, this is their doing.”
Some reactionary foreigners, mainly Muslims, believe that the accident was “God’s punishment.” The following statements by foreigners are typical in this regard:
- “They were punished by God for planning to kill others.” – Mohamed Siblani, 5th year, Lebanon, KMI student
- “This was done by God, who punished the communists.” – Jaber Khodr, Lebanon, student at the Kyiv Civil Engineering Institute
- “God has no stone to throw at the infidels, but there are people who are ready to carry out his will.” – Belal Issa, Lebanon, KISI
- “The more God punishes the communists, and the more of them that die, the better.” – Malongo, Gabon, KMI student, 1st year
- “If a person has done this, then he has a place in paradise.” – Hassan Mubarek, 1st year student at KIIGA, Lebanon
- “This man is a hero.” – Abdel Darwish, 3rd year student, KMI, Syria
A certain number of foreigners suggest that the Chernobyl incident is a retaliatory action by the United States in response to the loss of the US space shuttle Challenger. By extension, KISI students Jihad Fakih, Lebanon (DOR Mufti facility [sic]) and Nabil Hamzeh, Syria, are spreading wild rumors among their countrymen about possible repeated retaliatory actions by the United States against the USSR.
Most of the information about the actual extent of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident is available to foreign students and residents of medical schools in Kyiv (KMI, KMU-1, and the Scientific Research Institute), who are undergoing practical training at the medical departments of leading city and regional hospitals. On April 29, we directed the Pechers’kyi District Branch of the Ukrainian KGB to October Revolution Hospital No. 14, where more than 300 foreigners work and study, to report on the situation.
Agents and proxies have been instructed to identify individuals spreading harmful or wild rumors, as well as to take measures to contain possible negative developments during this year’s May Day and Victory Day celebrations.
Chief of the 3rd Branch of the 5th Department of the Ukrainian KGB Major [signed] Komarevich
Translating History 