ZNPP staff refusing to start up reactor No. 4 - Energoatom

The Ukrainian staff of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is refusing to comply with the order of the station's illegitimate management to start up power unit No. 4.

Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company Energoatom said this in a Telegram post, Ukrinform reports.

"Illegally appointed by the Russian authorities, the 'general director' of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, Yurii Chernichuk, is persuading nuclear power plant workers who refused to sign fake contracts with Rosatom to start up power unit No. 4. The staff of the station is categorically refusing to comply with the criminal order, which is a direct violation of the operating license issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU)," the post reads.

Last week, due to constant physical and psychological pressure put by the occupiers, about 30 licensed personnel of the ZNPP left Enerhodar. They managed to leave for the territory controlled by the government of Ukraine. At the moment, the operational staff taken from the Russian Federation is completely incompetent and does not have the appropriate experience.

Chernichuk is trying to get out of the current situation and involve in the work of the station the Ukrainian staff who even earlier refused to sign fake contracts with Rosatom and whose access to the station was blocked.

"Responsible Ukrainian personnel are aware that violating the terms of the SNRIU license will lead to the loss of personal licenses after the de-occupation of the ZNPP," Energoatom added.

Earlier reports said that the intentions of the Russian occupiers to put the ZNPP's power unit No. into a "hot shutdown" state would create significant additional risks for nuclear and radiation safety.

Photo: Energoatom