Who is General Pikalov in Chernobyl?
The general who drove himself · Party & State
General Pikalov (The general who drove himself) is a character in Chernobyl, part of Party & State. General Vladimir Pikalov commands the army's chemical troops at Chernobyl — an old soldier in a disaster with no front line. When the dosimeter readings need confirming at the reactor's mouth and someone must drive the truck, Pikalov dismisses the volunteers, puts on the lead apron, and drives it himself. In a story crowded with men protecting their careers, he is the other Soviet archetype: the one who simply goes.
When does General Pikalov first appear?
General Pikalov first appears in Season 1, Episode 2 (“Please Remain Calm”) of Chernobyl (2019, HBO).
Who is General Pikalov connected to?
Relationships already established when General Pikalov first appears — nothing from later episodes.
- Boris Shcherbina — The state's two kinds of duty
Which group does General Pikalov belong to?
By the time General Pikalov appears, Party & State also includes Boris Shcherbina.
Who else is introduced in this episode?
- Boris Shcherbina — The party man
- Ulana Khomyuk — The one who asks why
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