Umm, no offense. But the testing at reactor 4 was NOT for the nuclear weapons program. The testing was to bridge a known, safety gap in the SCRAM of the reactor and the backup generators coming online. When the RBMK reactor was first built, in the event of a SCRAM it took the diesel backups 15 seconds to spin up; furthermore, it took the generators an additional 30-45 seconds to spin up to full speed allowing water to be pumped with enough pressure to flow into the reactor chamber itself. For those paying attention, that is 45 - 60 seconds where the reactor is without water flow, which, in a reactor design that the RBMK used was not even close to acceptable standards. They were trying to see if they could use the momentum of the steam turbine as it spun down to drive the water pumps and bridge the gap.
The government actually had no clue what was going on before the test took place. The plant manager was the one who approved the test WITHOUT approval from the Soviet Nuclear Regulator.
Staff on hand for the test were ALL regular engineers for the plant. The problem at hand was, the test was to be run during the day shift; however, part of the Kiev power grid went off line during the day and a hold was put on reactor 4 lowering its power levels any further to make up for peak usage that night on the grid. By the time the evening shift was wrapping up, the all clear was given to proceed with the test with the night shift, who had VERY little knowledge of what was going on.
I realize you work in the industry; but the bolded comments on Chernobyl couldn't be anymore wrong.
