Chernobyl: Disaster
A documentary project where survivors speak for the first time — a necessary reminder of the cost of silence and secrecy.
CNN and Nat Geo International are releasing the documentary series Chernobyl: Disaster on May 17, 2026. Marking the 40th anniversary of the tragedy, the four-part project tells the powerful story of the world's largest nuclear disaster. Covering the scale of the reactor's destruction, a conspiracy planned by Soviet authorities to conceal the truth, and the consequences felt to this day, the series reveals the tragedy through candid interviews with survivors speaking publicly for the first time, as well as rare insights into the reactions of the CIA and the Soviet Union. The tone is unsettling, investigative, and unvarnished. Format — 4 episodes. If you enjoy Chernobyl, The World on the Brink, or documentary projects in the spirit of Apollo 11 — Chernobyl: Disaster will serve as an important historical testament.
May 17, 2026 on CNN.
4 episodes.
Yes, a documentary project about the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.
Erika Jenkins.
On CNN and platforms with documentary content.