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Hundreds Detained, Tortured, and Coerced in Russian-Occupied Enerhodar, Including Nuclear Plant Staff
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![Photo of Roman Kohanets]( "Photo of Roman Kohanets")
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Russian forces unlawfully detained more than 200 civilians in Enerhodar, including employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), after seizing the city in March 2022, according to a report published on September 24 by Truth Hounds.
The Kyiv-based human rights organization, established in 2014 to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, detailed widespread torture, unlawful imprisonment, and coercion of plant staff into working with the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
The investigation found at least 226 cases of illegal detention, with seven makeshift prisons established in and around Enerhodar.
Detainees were held in overcrowded cells and subjected to beatings, electrocution, sexual violence, mock executions, and threats against relatives.
“Interrogations often sought intelligence on resistance activities… Some detainees were compelled to sign cooperation agreements or contracts with Rosatom,” the report stated.
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Truth Hounds outlined a phased campaign: questioning of ZNPP personnel began in mid-March 2022, abductions intensified following an attempt on the occupation-installed mayor in late May, and detentions sharply increased after the staged referendum in September that year.
Among those targeted were participants in the local resistance, former Ukrainian service members and their families, gun owners, and at least 78 nuclear plant employees.
The organization concluded that the practices were both systematic and widespread, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law. It also warned that coercing licensed nuclear staff undermined reactor safety at Europe’s largest nuclear facility. The report urged coordinated international measures, including sanctions against Rosatom.
Earlier, it was reported that at least 13 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant employees were being unlawfully held by Russian forces, with many workers refusing to sign contracts with Rosatom.
