Head of Energoatom about the situation at ZNPP: “The most dangerous thing now is the lack of experienced personnel”

The ability of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to respond to unforeseen circumstances has seriously decreased due to the lack of experienced personnel. The safety of ZNPP is under threat, said Petro Kotin, the head of Energoatom, in an interview with the Japanese edition of NHK, UNN reports . 

The most dangerous thing now is the lack of experienced personnel. Those responsible for nuclear safety have been replaced by Russians. The safety of the plant is at risk because the Russians have displaced those with experience, and their ability to manage the plant and respond to unforeseen situations has significantly decreased

The head of Energoatom noted that after the Russian military occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, the number of employees decreased from about 11,000 to 4,000, and their experience and qualifications are insufficient to operate the plant. In addition, at least 500 Russian military personnel are constantly present at the plant site. 

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Kotin also  recalled that last June, Russians blew up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, which resulted in the reservoir that supplied water to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant going shallow: "Now we have only one cooling pond." 

Kotin emphasized that the only possible solution to restore nuclear and radiation safety is to de-occupy the plant and withdraw all Russian troops from the territory of ZNPP. 

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