Academician Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov (1903-1960) is one of those scientists whose works and practical efforts determined the future of mankind. Thanks to him, the Soviet Union managed to create an atomic and then a hydrogen bomb in a short time, destroying the US nuclear monopoly, and began to create an atomic submarine fleet. Kurchatov not only laid the foundations for the peaceful use of atomic energy, but also opened the way for research on controlled thermonuclear reactions. Despite the worldwide recognition of Kurchatov's merits and a large number of publications dedicated to him, many aspects of his life remain unexplored and little known.