The Chernobyl reactor was essentially blown up by extreme mishandling. Instead of water it used graphite, i.e. coal, as moderator. Even a child can tell you that coal burns. It is no wonder the radioactive material spread like it did. It is not possible to cause the same level of damage in a western reactor or modern Russian reactor, although you can still have a meltdown.
Unfortunately, some really scary reactors remain in use. The Leningrad 1 and 2 reactors are even older and unsafer than those of Chernobyl and situated next to St. Petersburg.
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[This message has been edited by C-H (edited 04-13-2004).]
