On the night of April 25, Oslyak returned home to Pripyat after a shift at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) and fell asleep beside his wife, Nikitina. At 1:23 AM, explosions erupted, signaling a catastrophic accident at the plant. While some residents were roused by the blasts and a strange glow on the horizon, the couple remained unaware, sleeping soundly. As fires burned uncontrollably within the reactor, emergency responders arrived at the site, oblivious to the radiation levels that had surged to life-threatening proportions. The initial explosion claimed the lives of two plant workers, with 28 more succumbing to acute radiation sickness in the weeks that followed. By the morning of April 26, residents of Pripyat were still largely unaware of the disaster, as shops remained open, and most children attended school. However, the couple soon noticed an influx of sealed vehicles bearing heavy equipment directed towards ChNPP. Despite recalling their university training on nuclear incidents—which seemed improbable during their studies—they decided to stay indoors. On April 27, evacuation orders were announced via loudspeakers, instructing residents to evacuate with minimal belongings. While Nikitina prepared to leave with her son, her husband was summoned back to the plant for duty. As they awaited transportation, Nikitina later reflected on the undue risk they experienced, standing unprotected in light clothing amid a radioactive cloud. The evacuation process was organized, transporting the residents to Ivankiv, approximately 50 kilometers south of Pripyat. After authorities disclosed the extent of the disaster on April 28, panic ensued among evacuees, leading Nikitina to attempt to clean her and her son’s contaminated clothing, which a dosimetrist later declared unsafe, necessitating their disposal.
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