🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 143 (from laksa046)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa143.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/","crawl_time":1775897641,"first_indexed_time":1559593284,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,cbsnews!www,\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/ s443","src_root_hash":"10008871826360721943","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Chernobyl disaster: How accurate is the HBO series? - CBS News","meta_descriptions":["A new mini-series brings to life the story of the 1986 nuclear disaster"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"June 3, 2019 \/ 4:20 PM EDT\n\/ CBS News\nAdd CBS News on Google\nThe HBO mini-series \"Chernobyl\" takes a dramatic look back at the\n1986 nuclear disaster\n. At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits.\nBut how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book \n\"Midnight in Chernobyl,\"\n (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told\nCBSN\nthe production design is \"extraordinary.\"\nFor example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time.\n\"They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be,\" Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since.\nOfficials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were \"extremely reckless\" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries\ndetected a spike in radiation\n.\nBut HBO's \"Chernobyl\" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to \"uncover the truth\" — it was known.\n\"In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster,\" Higginbotham said.\n\"Chernobyl\"\nairs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.\nHorrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath\n46 photos\nIn:\nHBO\nRussia","attrs_markdown":"- [Latest](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/)\n  - [U.S.](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/us\/)\n  - [Iran War](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/live-updates\/iran-war-trump-strait-of-hormuz-israel-ceasefire-talks\/)\n  - [Artemis II](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/live-updates\/artemis-ii-splashdown-return\/)\n  - [World](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/world\/)\n  - [Politics](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/politics\/)\n  - [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/entertainment\/)\n  - [HealthWatch](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/healthwatch\/)\n  - 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At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits.\n\nBut how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book [\"Midnight in Chernobyl,\"](https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster-ebook\/dp\/B07GNV7PNH\/?tag=cnet-cbsnews-20) (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told [CBSN](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/about-cbsn-cbs-news-always-on\/) the production design is \"extraordinary.\"\n\nFor example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time.\n\n\"They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be,\" Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since.\n\nOfficials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were \"extremely reckless\" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries [detected a spike in radiation](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident\/).\n\nBut HBO's \"Chernobyl\" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to \"uncover the truth\" — it was known.\n\n\"In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster,\" Higginbotham said.\n\n*[\"Chernobyl\"](https:\/\/www.hbo.com\/chernobyl) airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.*\n\n[![Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath ](https:\/\/assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2019\/05\/30\/29d18cb2-e901-4c09-bf48-e4b30781fbd1\/thumbnail\/620x349\/a5d31d3e689506cc37542ccb72ce8183\/gettyimages-51420780.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/pictures\/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath\/)\n\n[Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath 46 photos](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/pictures\/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath\/)\n\n### Books [More](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/feature\/books\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n- [Cory Booker: \"We, the people, are the heroes this country needs\" ![cory-booker-int-a-1280.jpg ](https:\/\/assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/03\/21\/53fb904b-6afc-49bd-8177-6eda6a840331\/thumbnail\/96x96g2\/ce2e8836f6d7922e81bd7bf23956470b\/cory-booker-int-a-1280.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/cory-booker-we-the-people-are-the-heroes-this-country-needs\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n- [Hail Caesar! How Sid Caesar reinvented comedy for TV ![Sid Caesar Portrait Session ](https:\/\/assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/03\/21\/fe5a6afb-5437-410a-a330-7e1019b5473c\/thumbnail\/96x96\/2ebfcde9d7865f3599faf4cf27dabeee\/sid-caesar-getty-156799321-1280.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/when-caesar-was-king-how-sid-caesar-reinvented-comedy-for-tv\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n- [Book excerpt: \"Table 4 at The River Cafe\" by Ruthie Rogers ![table-4-at-the-river-cafe-cover-gallery-books-1280.jpg ](https:\/\/assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/03\/20\/0e11e1a1-1cd0-488e-b114-42eb27255323\/thumbnail\/96x96\/789e49b328a21d28899dad790aaadb9c\/table-4-at-the-river-cafe-cover-gallery-books-1280.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/book-excerpt-table-4-at-the-river-cafe-by-ruthie-rogers\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n- [Book excerpt: \"The Meaning of Your Life\" by Arthur C. Brooks ![meaning-of-your-life-cover-portfolio-1280.jpg ](https:\/\/assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/03\/19\/3e2f738a-db11-4e4d-b8ba-155baa5a6cca\/thumbnail\/96x96\/cc82e40565f857d9acf74e345d4d2338\/meaning-of-your-life-cover-portfolio-1280.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/book-excerpt-the-meaning-of-your-life-by-arthur-c-brooks\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n- [Book excerpt: \"Stand\" by Cory Booker ![stand-cover-st-martins-press-1280.jpg ](https:\/\/assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/03\/19\/1a773050-fed1-4367-9369-f2249f11aeca\/thumbnail\/96x96\/37a98b5355fb90d0490873515ad5bcbb\/stand-cover-st-martins-press-1280.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/book-excerpt-stand-by-cory-booker\/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a)\n\n### Go deeper with The Free Press\n- [Two Drinks with. . . a Soviet Dissident, in Ukraine ![ ](https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/%24s_!FZGw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cd0e06b-7e12-4eed-a568-25610f5e4084_1229x1498.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/two-drinks-with-a-soviet-dissident?utm_source=cbs_news&utm_campaign=cbs_news_recirculation&utm_content=bottom_page)\n- [Coleman Hughes: Scott Adams Made Me a Better Thinker ![ ](https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/%24s_!nSXG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F042bac43-fd6b-480b-a0f5-e900cabdf1ac_1024x635.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/coleman-hughes-scott-adams-made-me?utm_source=cbs_news&utm_campaign=cbs_news_recirculation&utm_content=bottom_page)\n\nIn:\n\n- [HBO](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/tag\/hbo\/)\n- [Russia](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/tag\/russia\/)\n\n© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.\n\nThe true story behind HBO's \"Chernobyl\"\n\n[Does HBO's new mini-series \"Chernobyl\" tell the real story? 06:41](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/video\/is-hbos-new-hit-show-chernobyl-similar-to-the-real-disaster\/)\n\n#### Does HBO's new mini-series \"Chernobyl\" tell the real story?\n(06:41)\n\n- [Roseville hosts Big Boy 4014, world's largest steam locomotive, for 2-day showcase ![ ](https:\/\/assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/04\/10\/2072cb5c-ebaf-4e11-b3d0-7e51301fd9f9\/thumbnail\/1200x630\/04d2058de17f036f4bf5ca30328653bb\/4p-sotvo-s-train-watche-kmaxfbwj.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sacramento\/news\/roseville-union-pacific-big-boy-locomotive-showcase-marysville-stop\/?intcid=CNR-01-0623)\n- [Colorado union workers reach tentative agreement with JBS ![ ](https:\/\/assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2026\/02\/05\/c481d43d-0039-4716-9507-3b56d1217aec\/thumbnail\/1200x630\/a41ff840d565e5a4e694dbc3c5f9e327\/jbs.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/colorado\/news\/colorado-union-workers-tentative-agreement-jbs\/?intcid=CNR-01-0623)\n- [CTU wants May Day off so students, teachers can protest ![ ](https:\/\/assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2025\/05\/01\/25aa7fa2-9fa2-4ec4-a337-90d47ef1e5dc\/thumbnail\/1200x630\/cc5dbb32c1d301005927fde829cb8dde\/screenshot-2025-05-01-165223.png)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/chicago\/news\/chicago-teachers-union-may-day-school-cps\/?intcid=CNR-01-0623)\n- [Two Drinks with. . . a Soviet Dissident, in Ukraine ![ ](https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/%24s_!FZGw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cd0e06b-7e12-4eed-a568-25610f5e4084_1229x1498.jpeg)](https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/two-drinks-with-a-soviet-dissident?utm_source=cbs_news&utm_campaign=cbs_news_recirculation&utm_content=right_rail)\n\nFeatured\n\n[Iran War Coverage](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/us-iran-tensions\/)\n\n[Artemis II Splashdown](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/live-updates\/artemis-ii-splashdown-return\/)\n\n[Masters 2026](https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/golf\/news\/masters-2026-leaderboard-live-updates-round-2-scores-results\/live\/)\n\n[College Basketball Transfer Portal](https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/college-basketball\/news\/college-basketball-transfer-portal-tracker-live-updates-april-7-2026\/live\/)\n\nFollow Us On\n\n[YouTube](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/CBSNews\/)\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CBSNews\/)\n\n[Instagram](https:\/\/instagram.com\/cbsnews\/)\n\n[X](https:\/\/x.com\/CBSNews\/)\n\nPrivacy\n\n[Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.viacomcbsprivacy.com\/policy)\n\n[California Notice](https:\/\/privacy.paramount.com\/en\/policy#additional-information-us-states)\n\n[Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/#onetrust-pc-sdk)\n\n[Terms of Use](https:\/\/legal.paramount.com\/us\/en\/cbsi\/terms-of-use)\n\n[Minors' Privacy Policy](https:\/\/privacy.paramount.com\/childrens)\n\nMore from CBS News\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newsletters\/)\n\n[Podcasts](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/podcasts\/)\n\n[Download Our App](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/app\/)\n\n[Brand Studio](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/brandstudio\/)\n\n[Sitemap](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sitemap\/)\n\nCompany\n\n[About Paramount](https:\/\/www.paramount.com\/about\/)\n\n[Advertise With Paramount](https:\/\/www.paramount.com\/about\/businesses\/advertising)\n\n[Join Our Talent Community](https:\/\/pages.beamery.com\/paramount\/page\/cbsnewsstations)\n\n[Help](https:\/\/help.cbsnews.com\/s\/)\n\n[Feedback](https:\/\/www.cbs.com\/showfeedback\/)\n\n[Contact the Ombudsman](https:\/\/ombudsman.cbsnews.com\/)\n\nCopyright ©2026 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.\n\nView CBS News In\n\nCBS News App\n\n[Open](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/app\/?ftag=CNM-16-10abd6g&url=https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/)\n\nChrome\n\nSafari\n\n[Continue](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/chernobyl-disaster-how-accurate-is-the-hbo-series\/#app)","attrs_readable_markdown":"June 3, 2019 \/ 4:20 PM EDT \/ CBS News\n\n[Add CBS News on Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=cbsnews.com)\n\nThe HBO mini-series \"Chernobyl\" takes a dramatic look back at the [1986 nuclear disaster](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident\/). At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits.\n\nBut how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book [\"Midnight in Chernobyl,\"](https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster-ebook\/dp\/B07GNV7PNH\/?tag=cnet-cbsnews-20) (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told [CBSN](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/about-cbsn-cbs-news-always-on\/) the production design is \"extraordinary.\"\n\nFor example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time.\n\n\"They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be,\" Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since.\n\nOfficials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were \"extremely reckless\" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries [detected a spike in radiation](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident\/).\n\nBut HBO's \"Chernobyl\" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to \"uncover the truth\" — it was known.\n\n\"In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster,\" Higginbotham said.\n\n*[\"Chernobyl\"](https:\/\/www.hbo.com\/chernobyl) airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.*\n\n[![Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath ](https:\/\/assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com\/hub\/i\/r\/2019\/05\/30\/29d18cb2-e901-4c09-bf48-e4b30781fbd1\/thumbnail\/620x349\/a5d31d3e689506cc37542ccb72ce8183\/gettyimages-51420780.jpg)](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/pictures\/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath\/)\n\n[Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath 46 photos](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/pictures\/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath\/)\n\nIn:\n\n- [HBO](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/tag\/hbo\/)\n- [Russia](https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/tag\/russia\/)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Chernobyl disaster: How accurate is the HBO series? - CBS News
Meta Description	A new mini-series brings to life the story of the 1986 nuclear disaster
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Boilerpipe Text	June 3, 2019 / 4:20 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The HBO mini-series "Chernobyl" takes a dramatic look back at the 1986 nuclear disaster . At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits. But how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book "Midnight in Chernobyl," (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told CBSN the production design is "extraordinary." For example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time. "They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be," Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since. Officials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were "extremely reckless" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries detected a spike in radiation . But HBO's "Chernobyl" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to "uncover the truth" — it was known. "In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster," Higginbotham said. "Chernobyl" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath 46 photos In: HBO Russia
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June 3, 2019 / 4:20 PM EDT / CBS News [Add CBS News on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=cbsnews.com) The HBO mini-series "Chernobyl" takes a dramatic look back at the [1986 nuclear disaster](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident/). At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits. But how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book ["Midnight in Chernobyl,"](https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster-ebook/dp/B07GNV7PNH/?tag=cnet-cbsnews-20) (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told [CBSN](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/about-cbsn-cbs-news-always-on/) the production design is "extraordinary." For example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time. "They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be," Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since. Officials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were "extremely reckless" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries [detected a spike in radiation](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident/). But HBO's "Chernobyl" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to "uncover the truth" — it was known. "In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster," Higginbotham said. ["Chernobyl"](https://www.hbo.com/chernobyl) airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. [![Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath ](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2019/05/30/29d18cb2-e901-4c09-bf48-e4b30781fbd1/thumbnail/620x349/a5d31d3e689506cc37542ccb72ce8183/gettyimages-51420780.jpg)](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath/) [Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath 46 photos](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath/) ### Books [More](https://www.cbsnews.com/feature/books/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a) - [Cory Booker: "We, the people, are the heroes this country needs" ![cory-booker-int-a-1280.jpg ](https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2026/03/21/53fb904b-6afc-49bd-8177-6eda6a840331/thumbnail/96x96g2/ce2e8836f6d7922e81bd7bf23956470b/cory-booker-int-a-1280.jpg)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cory-booker-we-the-people-are-the-heroes-this-country-needs/?intcid=CNI-00-10aaa3a) - [Hail Caesar! 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All Rights Reserved. The true story behind HBO's "Chernobyl" [Does HBO's new mini-series "Chernobyl" tell the real story? 06:41](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/is-hbos-new-hit-show-chernobyl-similar-to-the-real-disaster/) #### Does HBO's new mini-series "Chernobyl" tell the real story? 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Readable Markdown	June 3, 2019 / 4:20 PM EDT / CBS News [Add CBS News on Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=cbsnews.com) The HBO mini-series "Chernobyl" takes a dramatic look back at the [1986 nuclear disaster](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident/). At the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, a reactor exploded, resulting in at least 32 deaths in the immediate aftermath. People who lived nearby were forced to evacuate, never to return. Hundreds of square miles surrounding the reactor are still off-limits. But how accurate is the mini-series? Adam Higginbotham, author of the new book ["Midnight in Chernobyl,"](https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster-ebook/dp/B07GNV7PNH/?tag=cnet-cbsnews-20) (which is published by Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS), told [CBSN](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/about-cbsn-cbs-news-always-on/) the production design is "extraordinary." For example, there is one scene where workers shovel pieces of radioactive debris and throw it off a roof into the remains of the reactor. Higginbotham said that scene looks like it was shot based off of documentary footage from the time. "They were timed for the amount of time they could be out there, in seconds, to limit their exposure to what at the time was regarded as safe as it could be," Higginbotham said. Some workers exposed to lethal doses of radiation. And global health officials say thousands of people have developed cancers related to the accident in the decades since. Officials have also been portrayed as unconcerned. Higginbotham said that's true because they were "extremely reckless" with radiation exposure. There were also disagreements about what to do in the aftermath of the explosion. Soviet officials did not tell the world what had happened until scientists in other countries [detected a spike in radiation](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-the-chernobyl-nuclear-accident/). But HBO's "Chernobyl" is still a drama, so parts are fictionalized. One character who was invented for the show, Ulana Khomyuk (played by Emily Watson), is portrayed as a whistleblower. Higginbotham said there simply was no need to "uncover the truth" — it was known. "In reality, so many nuclear scientists knew all along that there were problems with this reactor — the problems that led ultimately to an explosion and disaster," Higginbotham said. ["Chernobyl"](https://www.hbo.com/chernobyl) airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. [![Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath ](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2019/05/30/29d18cb2-e901-4c09-bf48-e4b30781fbd1/thumbnail/620x349/a5d31d3e689506cc37542ccb72ce8183/gettyimages-51420780.jpg)](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath/) [Horrifying photos of Chernobyl and its aftermath 46 photos](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/horrifying-photos-of-chernobyl-and-its-aftermath/) In: - [HBO](https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/hbo/) - [Russia](https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/russia/)
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