"In Chernobyl, no one knew how serious it was. We wore no special clothes. I am 55 years old and no one needs me. I can still hold a spoon but I need help to go the bathroom and I have to wear diapers."
-- Leonid Budkovskiy, Chernobyl liquidator
Budkovskiy, a mailman from Ivankiv, Ukraine, delivered top-secret mail to the military HQ in Chernobyl town. He continued for four years out of a sense of duty. His legs slowly stopped working, and by 1996 he was...
more »"In Chernobyl, no one knew how serious it was. We wore no special clothes. I am 55 years old and no one needs me. I can still hold a spoon but I need help to go the bathroom and I have to wear diapers."
-- Leonid Budkovskiy, Chernobyl liquidator
Budkovskiy, a mailman from Ivankiv, Ukraine, delivered top-secret mail to the military HQ in Chernobyl town. He continued for four years out of a sense of duty. His legs slowly stopped working, and by 1996 he was confined to a wheelchair. His grandson Slava helps him move around.
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This photograph is part of Michael Forster Rothbart's After Chernobyl documentary photography project.
© Michael Forster Rothbart 2007-2010.
www.afterchernobyl.com
www.mfrphoto.com
607-267-4893 • 607-432-5984
5 Draper St, Oneonta, NY 13820
86 Three Mile Pond Rd, Vassalboro, ME 04989
info@mfrphoto.com
Photo by: Michael Forster Rothbart
Date: 5/2007 File#: Canon 20D digital camera frame 5855
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Original caption:
Photo title: Leonid Budkovskiy with his grandson Slava.
Caption: In 1986, Leonid Budkovskiy, then a mailman in Ivankiv, was reassigned to deliver top-secret mail to the military headquarters set up in Chernobyl town. He continued for four years out of a sense of duty, even after the four drivers he worked with all quit. His legs slowly stopped working and by 1996 he was confined to a wheelchair. ..Currently, Budkovskiy spends most days sitting on his back stoop, overlooking his wife's vegetable garden, getting help from his grandson Slava and other family members. ...Quote: ."In Chernobyl, no one knew how serious it was. We wore no special clothes. I am 55 years old and no one needs me. I can still hold a spoon but I need help to go the bathroom and I have to wear diapers.".-- Leonid Budkovskiy, Chernobyl liquidator.-------------------..
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