Medvedev's description of the disaster in the New Scientist was initially derided by western nuclear industry sources, but the core of his story was soon confirmed by Professor Leo Tumerman, former head of the Biophysics Laboratory at the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow.
Deskripsi Medvedev tentang bencana di New Scientist pada awalnya dicemooh oleh sumber industri nuklir barat, namun inti ceritanya segera dikonfirmasi oleh Profesor Leo Tumerman, mantan kepala Laboratorium Biofisika di Institut Biologi Molekuler Engelhardt di Moskow.