About 100 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant employees, including senior managers, agree to collaborate with Russian occupiers

ANASTASIIA ZHARYKOVA – FRIDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2022,17:23

Out of the 6,700 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) employees who continue working at the plant since its occupation by Russian forces, about 100 workers have signed contracts with Rosatom [Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation] under pressure from the Russians. Several senior managers are among those who had agreed to work for Russia, too.

Source: Energoatom, the state operator of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote from Energoatom: "For the past two weeks, the Russian invaders have been doing everything within their power to force the ZNPP employees to sign contracts with Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant Operator, a fake organisation controlled by Rosatom."

Details: Russian occupation forces are intimidating and manipulating the ZNPP staff, claiming that 1,000 employees have already agreed to work for Rosatom. However, Energoatom stressed that these lies have not had the desired effect. 

"In reality, only about 100 ZNPP employees out of the 6,700 who continued working at the power plant since its occupation by the Russians have signed contracts with Rosatom. Moreover, the majority of those who did were forced to do so under pressure from the invaders," Energoatom said.

There are, however, also those who had agreed to work for Rosatom voluntarily, including several senior managers. These people are willing to get senior positions within the Russian organisation that has illegally claimed control over the ZNPP, and to receive substantial payments from the Russian occupiers.

"We know their surnames, and all of them will be held responsible for their actions after the power plant is liberated and Ukraine resumes full control over it," Energoatom stressed.

Meanwhile, 4,300 pro-Ukrainian ZNPP employees have fled to the Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Furthermore, despite pressure and threats, the Russian occupation forces are mounting on the remaining employees, the majority of those who continue working at the power plant keep supporting Ukraine, resist the occupiers, and put off signing treacherous contracts for as long as they can.

Background:

• On 5 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree, according to which, the control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant would be handed over to Russia.
• On 7 October, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree establishing a federal state unitary enterprise, the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, at the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been seized by Russian forces. Russia expects that the new organisation, which is controlled by Rosatom, will manage the ZNPP.

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