THE KYSHTYM NUCLEAR ACCIDENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000100060008-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 20, 1978
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2009/05/11: CIA-RDP05T00644R000100060008-0
701
0 OCT 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director, National Foreign
Assessment Center
Acting Director of Scientific
Intelligence
SUBJECT: The" Kshtpntr Naceat'`A.6c_cterr~
REFERENCE: Your Memorandum to DD/NFAC, dated
17 October 1978
1. Action' Required: None. It is recommended
thde'-we should''-not-'try*tai-release~,-anr.. unclassi.fse'd'
version': of -the- Kyshtym...-nnuclear --accident--
2. Background:
Your Nuclear. Intelligence Panel suggested that we
should consider releasing an unclassified version of
Kyshtym nuclear reactor accident
The purpose would be to lay to rest the erroneous, mis-
leading and at times greatly exaggerated stories on this
incident in the public press. The basis for these stories
are the public writings of Zhores Medvedev, a Russian
scientist emigre, and some low quality intelligence reports
released-through the FOIA process.
While Medvedev's writings are undoubtedly based on
events related to the Kyshtym accident, his conclusions
and some of his suppositions are clearly in error and
Approved For Release 2009/05/11: CIA-RDP05T00644R000100060008-0
25X1
2 A11
 Approved For Release 2009/05/11: CIA-RDP05T00644R000100060008-0
SUBJECT: The Kyshtym Nuclear Accident
greatly exaggerated. The intelligence reports are,
for the most part, exaggerated or whimsical. hearsay of
the type that accompanies any major accident.-The
result of all of this is that there is now in the public
domain the impression that Soviets suffered a massive
explosion in a nuclear waste storage facility (a
scientifically incredible event) resulting in wide-
spread death, destruction and contamination.
Issues
Because of the intense debate currently going on in
the US on.-the safety of nuclear power and the problem
of long term storage of radioactive waste, there is the
potential for the CIA to get caught in the middle of
this one.
3 : ' Recommendation : There s`?ca=reirtly?"hcr-pressure
ion the, Agency to release??;information< on the, Kyshtym....
incident, -and: for- the time being:=~i t-would ?~appear.,,. that--.,we
Approved For Release 2009/05/11: CIA-RDP05T00644R000100060008-0