Russian invaders hold ten ZNPP workers captive in torture chambers – mayor of Enerhodar

Before the occupation, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant employed around 11,000 workers. Currently, it only employs slightly over 2,000 individuals.

Dmytro Orlov, the mayor of the temporarily occupied Enerhodar, reported this on Ukrainian Radio.

"Beginning in February of this year, the occupiers have stopped permitting licensed personnel who did not enter into contracts with a fake Rosatom company. This has made it even more challenging for them to provide qualified personnel at the ZNPP, which was already facing difficulties. Currently, the power station is only being operated by around 2,000 individuals, some of whom are not specialists and many of whom were not previously employed at the ZNPP," Orlov said.

He recalled that there were about 11,000 workers at the station before the occupation. However, most of the personnel of the operational unit, which is licensed, are left in the controlled territory of Ukraine.

According to him, the ZNPP has been "working as a military base" for the third year in a row.

"The perimeter is mined; the territory is partially mined. Personnel of the occupying forces and military equipment are located on technological premises. The personnel have to feel both psychological and physical pressure and torture by the occupiers. Currently, about ten people are being held in the occupation torture chambers for their pro-Ukrainian position or simply because Russians found something in their phone or apartment," Orlov informed.

He noted that about 20% of residents remained in Enerhodar – that's about ten thousand people. Before the occupation, 53,000 people lived in the city.

The occupants are "taking over" the abandoned apartments and putting in personnel from the Russian Federation.

"But few people agree to go even from remote corners of the Russian mainland to Enerhodar. They understand that it is close to the front line. However, this does not apply to specialists whom the Russians forcibly bring in. Employees are on business trips for a month, two to a year and a half, and then they are sent to their permanent places of residence," the mayor said.

However, according to him, this does not cover the need for personnel "neither professionally nor in terms of numbers."

For reference:

The Russian occupying forces captured Zaporizhzhia NPP at the beginning of the full-scale invasion on March 4, 2022. The aggressors violated the station's mode of operation and used warehouses to store equipment and locate human resources.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly reported on the risks of a terrorist attack at the station. Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that the Russian Federation could create conditions that would cause a nuclear incident after the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Ukrainian defenders.

In addition, the IAEA confirmed the presence of mines at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which had been installed by the Russian invaders earlier.

Also, the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved a resolution regarding the immediate return of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant under the complete control of Ukraine.

Since the capture by the Russians, the ZNPP has repeatedly lost its external power supply; the plant has already experienced seven complete blackouts and one partial blackout.

According to reports, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized that there have been more than 150 significant violations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during the two years of occupation by Russian troops.

On March 5, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Moscow, where he met with Russian President Putin. Grossi planned, in particular, to learn about his vision regarding the further operation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and ways to ensure its safety.

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supported by a majority of votes the draft resolution on nuclear safety, security, and guarantees in Ukraine developed by Ukraine.