Chernobyl: The New Evidence

The first of a two‑part series examines the run‑up to the nuclear disaster, focusing on newly declassified evidence from the KGB archives concerning the plant’s safety. It analyses the archival material to reveal how safety issues were documented before the catastrophe.

Situation Critical is a programme presented as an episode‑type documentary. It forms part of a two‑part series and falls squarely within the documentary genre, offering a factual look at a historic event. The first instalment concentrates on the period leading up to a nuclear catastrophe, tracing the sequence of decisions and circumstances that set the stage for the disaster. Its narrative is built around material that has only recently become available, drawing heavily on documents that were formerly hidden within the KGB archives. By analysing this newly declassified paperwork, the film scrutinises the safety record of the nuclear plant in question. It assesses how the information uncovered in the Soviet secret‑service files sheds light on the plant’s operational standards and the extent to which any shortcomings may have contributed to the eventual calamity. As the opening half of the two‑part investigation, this episode lays the groundwork for the story that will be continued in the second instalment. It establishes the factual basis and the investigative angle that the series will follow, preparing viewers for a deeper look at the aftermath and the broader implications once the follow‑up episode airs.