Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant: 13 nuclear workers illegally detained over three years

During the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), at least 13 employees of the station have been illegally deprived of their liberty by Russian forces, according to the Energoatom company.

Illustrative image. A woman walks past residential high-rises in Enerhodar. Photo: Louidgi Beltrame

Researchers report that since March 2022, the ZNPP and the city of Enerhodar, where the plant’s personnel lived, have been turned into a torture chamber.

There are confirmed reports of at least a thousand detainees and individuals who have been subjected to torture or cruel treatment. Killings have also been confirmed, such as that of ZNPP employee Andriy Honcharuk, a diver who died after being tortured. The murder of Vladyslav Mitin is also known: the 26-year-old fitter’s taxi, which he was taking to work, was shot at by Russians in August 2022.

Energoatom states that during the occupation, approximately five thousand specialists were able to leave Enerhodar. Those who remain share their experiences of life there via a special hotline.

Regarding the illegally convicted nuclear workers, seven of them have received sentences in fabricated criminal cases, three are awaiting “trial,” and the fate of another three is unknown, leading them to be considered missing. Among those convicted, as reported by ZMINA, are:

• Serhiy Korzh, imprisoned, allegedly for espionage.
• Natalia Shulha, incarcerated by the Russians on charges of sabotage.
• Serhiy Potynha, imprisoned by Russians for 18 years, allegedly for attempting to assassinate a Russian militant from occupied Donetsk.
• Oleh Morochkovskyi, imprisoned for 11 years by Russians after torture, allegedly for espionage.
• Serhiy Spartesnyi, imprisoned for 12 years, allegedly for espionage.

Due to Russian actions, the nuclear power plant is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel.

At the same time, Ukraine is recording the names of Russian nuclear workers who are assisting the Russian Federation in occupying the ZNPP. The number of Russian military personnel and Rosatom employees at the station is estimated at around 500.

Shortly after the Russian occupation of the ZNPP, Enerhodar began to experience problems with food and medicine, and the occupational forces started to intimidate residents, even abducting some directly from the streets. Despite the pressure, Enerhodar residents initially participated in protests, which were dispersed with gunfire.