[jmacusa]

It was about that and the fact the Russians used a graphite reactor. An unreliable and dangerous type of nuclear reactor not used in the West. You're making my point. In the days of the old USSR the Russians in Moscow, The Central Committee controlled everything.

[NorseViking]

It was practical, efficient for maximal performance and took enormous out of this world effort from a suicidal crew disregarding every safety rule to cause meltdown. Not 100% fool-proof, true. Although dozens of similar reactors worked OK for decades without issues.