Chernobyl: Abyss

Alexey begins reconnecting with Olga, a former lover who works as a hairdresser in their town. She reveals that he is the father of her 10-year-old son, which adds emotional weight to their renewed bond. Their relationship grows, but the responsibilities looming over him create tension.

The budding romance encounters a rupture when Alexey fails to show up for a planned picnic with Olga and their son. Olga tells him never to visit again, severing the fragile closeness they had just begun to rebuild. The moment foreshadows the separation he will feel between personal life and duty.

Driven by the desire for a fresh start, Alexey applies to be reassigned to Kyiv, hoping to escape his past. But the Chernobyl explosion traps him in the middle of the firefighting effort as he boards a truck headed for reactor 4. He becomes part of a rapid, escalating emergency that will redefine his life.

During the initial response, Alexey survives the intense radiation exposure that comes with the uncontrolled blaze. He and his teammates push through heat, smoke, and fear as the plant crisis deepens. The true scale of the disaster begins to crystallize around them.

As the situation unfolds, experts warn of a potential secondary steam explosion from the massive reservoir beneath the melting reactor. Such an event could fling radioactive material across Europe, multiplying the catastrophe. Alexey recalls his experience inspecting corridors under nuclear reactors, recognizing the danger of what lies beneath. Time is running out.

Reluctant to volunteer for what could be a suicide mission, Alexey weighs the odds and the lives at stake. He is asked to join the plan, understanding the personal risk but recognizing the possible wider rescue. The opportunity to prevent a continental catastrophe pushes him toward the decision.

News arrives that his own son has been exposed to radiation and is at risk of dying. Alexey agrees to join the reservoir-drain mission on one condition: his son will be treated in Switzerland. The moral weight of his choice deepens as he resolves to do what he can.

The team attempts to drain the reservoir but the mission ends in failure on the first try. Tension rises as the clock ticks and the danger of a collapse increases. They prepare for a second, even riskier attempt.

A second attempt succeeds in draining the water, but Valera is trapped. He sacrifices himself by cutting the connecting rig so Alexey can escape, ensuring at least one chance for survival. The moment locks the team into a fatal balance of courage and loss.

Alexey crawls to safety, but his body bears severe radiation damage. The rescuers locate him on the drained setup, barely conscious as the water recedes. The team realizes the true cost of their heroic effort.

Olga visits the hospital and embraces Alexey, offering support and relief. His condition worsens, and he dies soon after, joining those lost to the disaster. The tragedy underscores the personal sacrifices behind a historical catastrophe.

Three months after the disaster, Alexey's son returns home after treatment in Switzerland. The family endures the grief while trying to rebuild their lives. The resilience of loved ones underlines the human cost of the crisis.