In 1993, I wrote a book published in 1996 under the title «The „Mayak“ Combine – half a century of problems». The book was published on the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the decree of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR on the beginning of the design of the first plutonium reactor in the USSR and on the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. It was published quickly, there was practically no money for publication, so the design and circulation left much to be desired. In addition, the range of problems discussed in the book was limited to historical aspects and practically did not concern either today’s problems or the prospects of the «Mayak». And there were very few sources of information at that time. Despite this, the book turned out to be interesting both for specialists in this field and for activists of environmental movements because it was a reference book on all the problems of the «Mayak». Maybe a little superficial, but comprehensive.
Meanwhile, there was more information available on the topic under discussion, contacts with specialists and veterans of the «Mayak» expanded, and interest in the problem did not decrease. People who read the book sent letters, offered to share their memories and help correct the inevitable inaccuracies that accompanied the first edition. So, the idea was born to write a new book, partly using the materials included in the first edition. I visited «Mayak» several more times, met with dozens of veterans and specialists working at the enterprise today, with the management of the «Mayak» combine and the city of Ozyorsk, with specialists in the transportation and processing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, with experts in the field of offshore companies in «closed cities», with representatives of «Gosatomnadzor» and «Goskomekology» in Ozyorsk and Moscow. As a result, I wrote a new book, published in 2001, entitled «The «Mayak Combine – a Problem for the Ages».
The discussion of the problems of the nuclear industry and energy in the post-Chernobyl era was highly politicized and did not tolerate shades. The author was required to clearly define whether you are «for» the further development of the nuclear industry or «against». That is, to classify oneself as one of the opposing groups. But as a researcher and analyst, objectivity and maximum impartiality were required of me. I collected facts and research results, without skipping or discarding anything because of the inconsistency of my position, described them in understandable language – giving the reader the opportunity to understand the problem himself and determine his attitude to it.