Soviet Union: The Men Who Caused a Cloud

The Soviets last week disclosed three names that may soon become widely known: Plant Director Viktor Bryukhanov, Chief Engineer N. Fomin and a deputy chief engineer identified only as Dyatlov. The names were virtually unaccompanied by biography except for the charge against them: "criminal negligence" in connection with the explosion last year that ripped apart Reactor No. 4 near the Ukrainian town of Chernobyl. Maximum penalty: 15 years in jail.

In the 14 months since the world's worst civilian nuclear accident, Moscow has been slowly fixing blame for the disaster, which killed 31 people, hospitalized hundreds and caused severe environmental damage. Until last week no one had been charged with a crime. The trial starts next month in the building that was Chernobyl's cultural center before the town was evacuated.