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Russia Detains at Least 13 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Workers, Energoatom Reports

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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Russia Detains at Least 13 Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Workers, Energoatom Reports
People cross a road in Nikopol, Ukraine, with the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant visible across the Dnipro River, March 29, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

At least 13 employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) are being unlawfully held by Russian forces on temporary occupied territories.

Following Russia’s occupation of ZNPP in March 2022, pressure on Ukrainian nuclear personnel increased significantly. Many workers refused to cooperate with Russian authorities or sign contracts with Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, according to the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine, Energoatom on May 13.

Energoatom reports that approximately 5,000 employees have since left the occupied city of Enerhodar and have been reassigned to other divisions across Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector.

However, 13 individuals remain in detention. According to Energoatom, seven of them have been “sentenced” by Russian-installed authorities, including a 56-year-old female employee who received a 15-year sentence and an engineer sentenced to 19 years.

Three more are currently imprisoned pending so-called verdicts. The fate of the remaining three remains unknown—they are classified as missing.

Energoatom also confirmed the earlier-reported death of Andrii Honcharuk, a diver at ZNPP, who was allegedly tortured to death by Russian forces in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion.

The company emphasized that Russia continues to use the Zaporizhzhia plant as a military base. Military vehicles and ammunition are reportedly stored inside the facility, while the plant’s equipment continues to degrade.

Energoatom reiterated its position that the ZNPP must be returned to Ukrainian operational control, and all detained staff must be released without delay.

Earlier, on March 25, Russia’s Foreign Ministry declared the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant a “Russian nuclear facility,” stating that control over the site would never be returned to Ukraine or any other country. Moscow rejected any involvement by international organizations, citing alleged security concerns and NATO ties.

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