Viktor Kibenok

Viktor Nikolaevich Kibenok (, ; 17 February 1963 11 May 1986) was a Chernobyl firefighter who was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union after he died of acute radiation syndrome.

Early life Viktor Kibenok was born on 17 February 1963 in the village of Ivanivka, Kherson Oblast in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Firefighting career Kibenok completed his preliminary high school education in 1980 before working as a paramilitary fireman for the Militarized Fire Department No.2 (Russian: Военизированная пожарная часть № 2/ ВПЧ-2) in Chernobyl from 1980 to 1981.

Chernobyl disaster

Kibenok was part of the 28-man team which responded to the alarm at 01:29 in the morning on 26 April 1986 at the beginning of the Chernobyl disaster shortly after the initial explosion. which specialised in treating victims of radiation accidents. Kibenok had received bitumen burns on the inside of his mouth and his lungs were damaged by inhaling burning bitumen. Due to these internal burns, Kibenok couldn't eat and it was extremely painful for him to speak.

Legacy After his death, Kibenok left behind a wife and unborn child, although the child would later be stillborn. Kibenok was posthumously awarded the Hero of The Soviet Union award along with the Order of Lenin on 25 September 1986. Kibenok has a street named after him in his home city of Ivanivka. Kibenok also has numerous monuments, all over the Kyiv region, including one at the Cherkasy Fire and Technical School where Kibenok trained to become an officer.