Russian invaders plan to ‘evacuate’ more than 3,000 staff of Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant
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Russian invaders plan to “evacuate” more than 3,000 employees of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant together with their families, with some already having been taken to the Rostov Oblast in Russia, Ukrainian nuclear operator Energoatom’s press service reported on Telegram on May 10.
The removal primarily concerns 2,700 station employees who have signed contracts with the illegitimate AT Exploitation Organization of the Zaporizhzhya NPP or other enterprises of Rosatom, and their family members, Energoatom said.
Energoatom reminded that the invaders previously prohibited ZNPP employees from leaving after taking over the facility.
These actions by the Russians demonstrate their inability to ensure the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, as there is currently a critical shortage of qualified personnel, Energoatom said.
“Even Ukrainian employees who, by signing shameful contracts, agreed to cooperate with the Ruscists (a Ukrainian portmanteau for ‘Russian fascist’ – ed.), are now going to be ‘deported’ in the near future,” Energoatom said.
“And this will exacerbate the already extremely urgent issue of having sufficient personnel to ensure the safety of the NPP’s operation, even in its current (shut-down) state,” the company added.
Energoatom said that it is currently taking all possible measures to assemble the necessary number of specialists capable of ensuring the safe operation of the station during the initial period following its de-occupation.
This team will be composed of ZNPP employees currently situated on Ukrainian-controlled territory, as well as experts from other nuclear power plants.
The Zaporizhzhya NPP, Europe’s largest nuclear power plants, was seized by Russian occupiers following the fighting in Enerhodar on March 4, 2022. The NPP’s buildings sustained damage in several areas due to Russian shelling, and its workers were taken prisoner.
Russian troops have established firing positions at the ZNPP and are launching attacks on Ukrainian cities from there.
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