Valery Legasov

Valery Alekseyevich Legasov was a Soviet inorganic chemist and academic best known for his role in responding to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Valery Alekseyevich Legasov was a Soviet inorganic chemist and academic best known for his role in responding to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. He helped investigate the accident and presented findings to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna in 1986. He died by suicide in 1988 after suffering poor health and frustration over reform efforts.

Early life and education

Legasov was born in Tula, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union on 1 September 1936. He became a scientist in the Soviet Union, building his career in chemistry and academia before the Chernobyl accident brought him wider international attention.

Role in the Chernobyl disaster

After the 1986 Chernobyl explosion, Legasov took part in efforts to contain the consequences and investigate the causes. In August 1986, he presented an investigation report at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

Scientific career

Legasov was an inorganic chemist and a member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. He was also a senior scientific administrator in the Soviet scientific system.

Death and legacy

Legasov died on 27 April 1988, with his decline attributed to radiation exposure and frustration over unsuccessful reform efforts. He is remembered primarily for his role in the Chernobyl disaster and his public reporting of the disaster.