POSSIBLE USE OF FORCED LABOR AT CHERNOBYL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100170008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2011
• Sequence Number: 8
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: Douglas J. MacEachin
Director of Soviet Analysis
Possible Use of Forced Labor at
Chernobyl'
taA,409
1. -This is to apprise you of our continuing efforts to
ascertain whether the Soviets are using forced labor in cleanup
operations at Chernobyl'. Thus far, the evidence is
inconclusive.
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4. Three forced labor camps are located within 100
kilometers of the Chernobyl' Nuclear Power Plant. The forced
labor camp at Mozyr' lies about 90 kilometers to the northwest
with access by a hard-surfaced road; a camp. to the south near
Kiev is 130 kilometers by road from the power plant. Each of
these camps confines 1,700 to 1,800 prisoners. The camp in the
city of Chernigov, about 90 kilometers by rail from the power
plant, houses 600 to 700 forced laborers. In addition, seven
other forced labor camps are located within 161 kilometers of the
plant. 25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
6. Soviet
use of forcea a or in the mining, processing and utilization of
radioactive matter:
-- In the 1950s, political prisoners were used in the
extraction of uranium in Kolyma
(prisoners
eing used in the extraction of uranium there.
prisoners
under capital sentence were sent to uranium mines,
where most died within-two years.
were used in the extraction of u
the loss of life was high.
-- A former political prisoner now in Isreal has written
a book that locates 41 camps where prisoners were
used for the extraction and processing of uranium
ore, or for labor in institutions deal ng with
nuclear submarines. camps in more
than half of the locations pinpointed by the author,
but does not indicate the use of prisoners in the
nuclear weapons program.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
Our best judgment is that the Soviets have used forced labor
extensively in uranium mining. At least in recent years they
probably have not used forced labor in nuclear weapons production
because of security considerations and because skilled labor is
needed. At Chernobyl', however, unskilled labor is needed for
such tasks as purifying the soil and destroying forests.
7. -While working in an open area forced laborers require
constant guarding. Usually they are confined in a fenced and
heavily secured work area having guard towers along the
periphery--similar to that which surrounds the Chernobyl' reactor
8. There are indications that the Soviets are keeping
contaminated vehicles within the 30 kilometer evacuation zone and
that vehicles bringing equipment and supplies to the power plant
are transloaded at the border of the 30 kilometer zone to prevent
contamination. These transloading areas would be ideal places to
use forced laborers; they would be located away from the main
area of activity and they would provide a place for forced -
laborers to fulfill manual labor tasks of loading and
unloading.
9. Considering the suitability of unskilled forced labor
for many of the cleanup jobs at Chernobyl', and considering past
Soviet willingness to use forced labor in hazardous work, the use
of forced labor is plausible--but not confirmed.
any indications that forced labor is present in Chernobyl'.
10. We will continue to monitor all relevant traffic for
L)qug.L# ac in
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6
SUBJECT: Possible Use of Forced Labor at Chernobyl'
SOVA/DJMacEachin (5 June 1986)
Distribution:
1 - DDCI
1 - EXDIR
1 - EX Reg
1 - DDI (for chrono)
1 - DDI Reg
2 - D/SOVA
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100170008-6