Nikolai Tarakanov

Nikolai Dmitrievich Tarakanov is a former Soviet military leader, doctor of technical sciences, member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, founder and chairman of the Coordination Council of the Presidential Club Trust, Center for Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities, a member of the Union of Russian Writers, laureate of the M.A. Sholokhov International Literary Prize.
Tarakanov led a three-month operation to remove radioactive debris from the dangerous zones of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the restoration work after the Spitak earthquake. In his later life, he has become disabled due to consequences of his exposure to radiation in Chernobyl, and currently takes eight different medications to treat his radiation-related symptoms.

Early life and education

Tarakanov was born in the village of Gremyachye to a large peasant family. His father was Dmitry Tikhonovich Tarakanov, a veteran of the Russian Civil War, Winter War and World War II, and his mother was Natalia Vasilyevna.
In 1953, he graduated from the Gremyachensk secondary school, then Kharkov Military Technical School. He served in the school, later in the Red Banner regiment of civil defense troops as commander of an electrical platoon.
In 1963, he graduated from the Kharkov Automobile and Highway Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served in Saratov as a regimental engineer. In 1967, he became a teacher at the Moscow Military School of Civil Defense. In 1972, he graduated from the adjuncture of the Kuibyshev Military Engineering Academy in Moscow.

Career

Tarakanov served as a senior specialist in the Military Technical Committee of the USSR Civil Defense Forces, then in the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Civil Defense, Deputy Chief of the Civil Defense Staff of the RSFSR.
In 1986, he led an operation to remove highly radioactive elements from highly dangerous zones of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
In 1988, he led the rescue work after the Spitak earthquake.
In June 2019, in an interview with TV Rain channel, discussing the HBO serial Chernobyl, he said that he had lost the savings that he had saved for treatment.
According to Tarakanov, for his leadership of the operation on the Chernobyl accident, he was presented to the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The general said this in an interview with journalist Alexey Pivovarov. But after, as Tarakanov says, the conflict with the chief of staff of the Kiev military district, General Fedorov, he was removed from the list.

Family

Tarakanov married Zoya Ivanovna, a doctor. They had a daughter, Yelena, who became a doctor.

Awards

Public awards

Order "For the Salvation of Life on Earth"
Order "Pride of Russia"
Order "For Service to the Fatherland" III and I degree
Order of "Civil Valor"
Order "Defenders of the Fatherland"
Freeman
Order of Merit
The gold medal of the winner of the M.A. Sholokhov International Literary Prize
Sergey Yesenin's gold medal
Gold Medal "Honorary Lawyer"
Gold Medal "Winner of the Chernobyl Star Literary Award"

Medals For Loyalty to the Fatherland, Peacemaker, Russian Land, Medal Bunin, Silver Medal of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, For merits in the revival of the nation to them. Peter the Great, 20 years of the Chernobyl disaster, For loyalty to duty, For merits in the field of veterinary medicine, George Zhukov, 55 years of the Moscow city writers' organization, Afghanistan 40th Army, Medal. Roentgen.

In popular culture

In the HBO television series Chernobyl, Tarakanov is played by the English actor Ralph Ineson. Tarakanov praised the series, calling it “brilliant work”, and also spoke highly of the portrayal by the British actor who played him in the series.

Publications

Source –

Scientific articles

Maksimov, M. T., Tarakanov, N. D., Experience of Using Technical Means and Methods for Managing the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant / Ed. ed. V.L. Govorova. - M.: stroiizdat, 1990. - 137 p.
Tarakanov N. D. Complex mechanization of rescue and emergency rescue and recovery operations. - M.: Energoatomizdat, 1984. - 304 p. -.

Books

Tarakanov N. D. Two tragedies of the XX century. : Dokum. to lead - M.: Owls. writer, 1992. - 431 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. Living memory. reflections on time and on human destiny... / comp. A. Pekarsky. - Ed. 2nd, add. . - M.: Voenizdat Branch, 2006. - 488 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. Notes of the Russian General. Fav. works: In 3 tons. - M.: 4th fil. Military Publishing, 1998.
* Vol. 1: Hell's End
* Vol. 2: Coffins on the shoulders
* Vol. 3: The Abyss
Tarakanov N. D. Notes of the Russian General. . - M.: Branch of Voenizdat, 2007.
* Vol. 1: Hell's End
* Vol. 2: And the Earth opened up
* Vol. 3: The Catcher in the Lie...
N. D. Tarakanov. And the two destinies became one fate...: a literary collection of arts. - M.: Voenizdat branch, 2008. - 175 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. When the mountains cry. - M.: Dignity, 2014. - 294 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. Hope of Russia. - M.: B.i., 2004. - 472 p. - BBK Ш6 75-491
Tarakanov N. D. Under the constellation of the Bull. Field. meditations. - M.: Inter-Libra, 2003. - 279 p. -
N. D. Tarakanov. Break: . - M.: Military Publishing, 1991. - 192 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. Russian knot. Prince thinking - 2nd ed., . - M.: Military Publishing, 2002. - 615 p. -
Tarakanov N. D. Chernobyl notes, or Reflections on morality. - M.: Military Publishing, 1989. - 208 p. -
Tskhinval: a chronicle of Georgian aggression. documentary collection / under total. ed. N. D. Tarakanova. - Ed. 2nd, add. - M.: Presidential Club "Trust", 2009. - 272 p. -
"Chernobyl Signal"; "The dead judge the living"; "The dead are not silent"; “At the turn of the millennium. Fracture "; "Fracture"; "Graphite"; "Soldiers of the Fatherland"; “Vivat to President Putin!”; "President Putin in the new version"; "Sonkino Lake"

Television appearances

Air Force TV programChernobyl: Chronicle of SilenceGood Morning Evening Voronezh Go!, Klass! TV Hero of the Day with Svetlana Sorokina Witness of the Century Forgive with Andrey Rasbash Church and Peace
''Male and Female''