The “Claw” of Chernobyl is one of the most recognizable relics left behind from the cleanup of the 04-26-1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Officially, it was a large industrial clamshell grab used during the immense effort to remove radioactive debris from the area surrounding the destroyed Reactor No. 4. In the chaotic months following the explosion, thousands of workers, soldiers, engineers, and machine operators—known collectively as liquidators—were tasked with containing the consequences of the worst nuclear accident in history.
