Alexander Kupnyi answers the question of why he repeatedly climbed into the interior of reactor 4 after the nuclear accident on April 26, 1986 with a counter question. “Why do people climb caves? Or mountains? It’s both frightening and horrifying – and at the same time beautiful and exciting.” The 65-year-old has long, gray hair and speaks calmly. On the table in front of him is a cup labeled “Chernobyl-flavored coffee.”
