How does Russia feel about HBO Chernobyl?
Rachel Newton
Updated on February 17, 2026
What did Russia think of HBO's Chernobyl? There has been plenty of praise in Russia for the authenticity of Chernobyl. Izvestia newspaper declared it a more 'realistic' portrayal of the era than most Russian films manage. There's also admiration of how the series conveys the heroism of ordinary people.
Herein, how did Russia react to Chernobyl?
“The lack of freedom of speech and independent media led, among other things, to people celebrating the May holidays in 1986 as normal in Kiev and other cities inside the Chernobyl radiation zone.” It is this lack of freedom of speech that Yavlinsky sees as one of the drivers of the Soviet collapse just a few years
Also Know, how accurate is Chernobyl HBO? Yes. According to New York Times science writer Henry Fountain, who has visited the Chernobyl plant, Reactor Number 4's control room in the series is historically accurate. The aftermath of the explosion of Chernobyl's Reactor Number 4 as seen in the HBO miniseries (left) and in real life (right).
Also Know, is HBO available in Russia?
Although the HBO program is available in Russia and Ukraine only to the relatively small audience that subscribes to pay-for-view streaming services, as well as an unknown number who access pirated versions, it has been disproportionately noticed and reviewed by mainstream media in both countries.
Does HBO now have Chernobyl?
Craig Mazin and Peter Sagal discuss the themes of the series premiere in the first installment of “The Chernobyl Podcast” — now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more, as well as HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.
Related Question Answers
Why did Russia cover up Chernobyl?
To reduce the spread of radioactive contamination from the wreckage and protect it from weathering, the protective Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus was built by December 1986. The Chernobyl disaster is considered the worst nuclear power plant accident in history, both in terms of cost and casualties.How did the government react to Chernobyl?
The Soviet Government denied that anything had occurred at the power plant, despite numerous calls being made from the East and West about radiation. Soon afterwards, on April 28 the Soviet government confirmed there had been an accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant, on the TV news programme Vremya.Is Chernobyl in Russian?
The Russian language is present throughout Chernobyl but it is not spoken between the actors. Instead, the Russian language is used in the form of poems, recordings, songs, news broadcasts and public announcements.Who owns Chernobyl plant?
SAUEZMIs Russia making a Chernobyl movie?
Russia's new 'Chernobyl' movie Producers say this cinematization will be a major attraction, not like HBO's 'small-screen' series. The movie, which debuts on October 8, 2020, depicts the events of the accident that struck the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in late April 1986.Where was Chernobyl filmed?
But where was it filmed? Not at the real Chernobyl wasteland that still stands today in what is now Ukraine, but rather in Lithuania, mainly at Chernobyl's sister power plant, Ignalina, with other portions filmed in suitably gloomy towns and city neighbourhoods around the country.Who was in power in Russia during Chernobyl?
| Mikhail Gorbachev | |
|---|---|
| Gorbachev in 1986 | |
| President of the Soviet Union | |
| In office 15 March 1990 – 25 December 1991 | |
| Vice President | Gennady Yanayev |
What is the plan for Chernobyl?
It was designed with the primary goal of confining the radioactive remains of reactor 4 for the next 100 years. It also aims to allow for a partial demolition of the original sarcophagus, which was hastily constructed by Chernobyl liquidators after a beyond design-basis accident destroyed the reactor.Is Netflix allowed in Russia?
The rights to stream movies and TV shows are sold by country. To win the rights to stream content in a particular country, Netflix has to compete with other streaming service providers-and it doesn't always win the bid. So if you are in Russia, you can only stream Russian Netflix.Is HBO available outside the US?
Getting HBO outside the United StatesOutside the US, HBO services are available in more than 50 countries and reach over 35 million subscribers. Currently, HBO programming is available in Asia, South Asia, Central Europe and Latin America.
Is HBO now available internationally?
No. The HBO apps, HBONOW.com, and our Help Center can't be accessed outside of the United States.Why is HBO not available in Europe?
HBO Max is not allowed to stream content in any other region except the United States because of licensing rights. In fact, you can't access HBO Max in Europe even with an HBO subscription unless you are using a VPN.Is HBO in UK?
In the UK, viewers can access HBO shows through their existing Sky subscription or access shows produced by the channel with a pass through Now TV. There are various packages, deals and trials available for both services, depending on what other content you are also interested in.What HBO got wrong about Chernobyl?
While there were countless heroes, including scientists, in the aftermath of Chernobyl, ultimately the Soviet scientific community as well as its political system was responsible for the design flaws of the RBMK reactor, the lack of safety culture, and unforgivable lack of preparedness for such an accident.Is Chernobyl reactor 4 still burning?
So Is Chernobyl Still Burning? Yes, but it is not what you think. It is not the reactor itself it burns. Authorities continued to operate the one remaining reactor until 2000 when international negotiations finally led to its shutdown after elevated rates of the thyroid cancers.What did HBO Chernobyl get wrong?
At the end of the show, HBO claims there was “a dramatic spike in cancer rates across Ukraine and Belarus,” but this too is wrong. Residents of those two countries were “exposed to doses slightly above natural background radiation levels,” according to the World Health Organization.Are there mutated animals in Chernobyl?
Despite looking normal, Chernobyl's animals and plants are mutants. According to a 2001 study in Biological Conservation, Chernobyl-caused genetic mutations in plants and animals increased by a factor of 20.Did anyone survive Chernobyl?
Contrary to reports that the three divers died of radiation sickness as a result of their action, all three survived. Shift leader Borys Baranov died in 2005, while Valery Bespalov and Oleksiy Ananenko, both chief engineers of one of the reactor sections, are still alive and live in the capital, Kiev.Is Chernobyl safe to visit?
The tours to Chernobyl are safe. In what concerns the radiation, the levels of radition in major parts of restricted zone are at levels that would not influence human health even for one month stay. The route goes through this safe places and approaches the former nuclear plant to distance of few hundred meters.How many people did Chernobyl kill?
31 peopleWhat is the best documentary on Chernobyl?
Three incredible documentaries about Chernobyl- Chernobyl Heart.
- The Russian Woodpecker.
- Chernobyl: Two days in the exclusion zone.
