[Dispersion and Evacuation of the Population]

What to do after a nuclear attack in the Soviet Union.

This Russian-language poster reflects the unfortunate realities of a possible nuclear war during life in the Soviet Union. Designed as an educational tool for the civilian population, the image presents a series of captioned illustrations that provide basic instructions for evacuation after a nuclear attack. The plan for organized dispersal by foot, rail, and bus was apparently well-organized. A series of pictures near the bottom show necessary items – food (2-3 days’ worth), personal belongings, protective equipment, and – of course – required documentation.

The chart was authored by S.N. Semenov and drawn by V.G. Rogozin, with approval by the Academic Council of the USSR State Committee for Vocational and Technical Education. Published by the Moscow Higher School in 1987. Printed in Odesa by Poligrafkniga – Ukraine may have been particularly wary of nuclear dangers considering the Chernobyl disaster had happened just the year prior.