Petr Kotin, the head of Energoatom, Ukraine’s state nuclear energy company, emphasized in remarks reported by CNN that during the Ukrainian counteroffensive the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) should have been bypassed to prevent escalation. Kotin stressed that safeguarding the facility is a paramount duty for all military units involved, noting that their mission is to preserve the plant’s operational and physical integrity. He underscored that the protagonists in the conflict are responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted security of the site and that avoidance of direct confrontation around the plant remains a priority during active combat operations. (CNN)
Oleksiy Yasinsky, who previously led strategic communications for the Zaporozhye NNGS business association, clarified that the ZNPP does not house heavy weaponry and does not operate with such armaments. Yasinsky further pointed out that the facility’s managing organization is tasked with nuclear security, and therefore the presence of heavy weapons on site would be inappropriate and against established safety principles. His remarks contribute to the ongoing dialogue about how the plant is safeguarded and controlled under wartime conditions. (CNN)
On May 8, Yevhen Balitsky, the deputy governor of the Zaporozhye region, announced that on Victory Day the operation of the ZNPP would be temporarily suspended to minimize the risk of provocations by Ukrainian forces and to maintain public safety. The decision reflects a cautious approach aimed at reducing tension around the facility during a ceremonial and high-profile period. (Local authorities)