“Mayak” is a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Russia. Today we’ll visit a nuclear fuel recycling plant called RT-1 which is just one link in the “Mayak” chain system. The plant deals with acceptance and recycling of processed nuclear fuel.

The town Chelyabinsk-40 together with production association “Mayak” (translated as “Lighthouse†into English) were the firstlings of the Soviet nuclear industry.
Because of secrecy, postal address of the town was changed many times.  At first it was Chelyabinsk-40, later Chelyabinsk-65, since 1995 – Ozersk.

Thus, a secret industrial nuclear reactor appeared near the town of  Kyshtym. They produced enriched uranium there. Construction of the nuclear reactor was started in 1947, and it had to
reach its planned production capacity in June of 1948. However, because of engineering malfunctions, already functioning reactor was stopped for emergency repair, and the activation was postponed till March of 1949. In the meantime, construction of industrial complex was going on. “Ozersk”

“Radioactive Territory, No Entry”. Men and women use separate entries. Clothes are totally changed. Touching anything here as well as putting backpacks on the floor is not allowed.

A place where the shoes are changed. “Stop and change your shoes!”