best known example of this is the footage of filmmaker Mihail Nazarenko, who started filming in Pripyat (3 kilometers away of the plant) on 16 mm early morning of the “accident” and the following days, stills of the first rolls of film:
thats about 6 to 8 hours after the explosion; these white dots are actually radioactive particles from the burning core on the film.
you can find this footage online, Nazarenko made a short 10-minutes documentary out of it, called “It is Unforgettable”.
and yes, the TV-show is remarkable, extremly well done, lots of great details and overwhelming depressing. highest recommendation, go see it everyone who hasnt so far.
absolutly. a graphite burning, melting core, with no housing whatsoever, completly open to the atmosphere. the explosion was so forceful, it blew the 1000-ton (!) biological-shield-lid on top of the reactor through the roof. that is true nuclear apocalypse.
