Viktor Kibenok

Viktor Nikolaevich Kibenok (Ukrainian: Віктор Миколайович Кібенок; Russian: Виктор Николаевич Кибенок; February 17, 1963 – May 14, 1986) was a Soviet firefighter and a first responder to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster. He was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his bravery and sacrifice.

Kibenok was the head of the paramilitary fire station No. 6 in Pripyat. On April 26, 1986, he was one of the first firefighters to arrive at the scene of the fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant's Reactor Number 4. He, along with his team, worked tirelessly to extinguish the fires, facing extreme heat and radiation exposure. Despite the danger, they continued their efforts until they were relieved.

Following his involvement in the Chernobyl disaster response, Kibenok was hospitalized in Moscow with acute radiation syndrome. He died on May 14, 1986, and was buried at the Mitinskoe Cemetery in Moscow. His actions are remembered as a crucial part of the initial response to the disaster, and he is considered a national hero in Ukraine and Russia. His story has been featured in numerous documentaries, books, and the HBO miniseries Chernobyl.