MOSCOW. Sept 8 (Interfax) - The management of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Energodar has decided to temporarily let go of some of its workforce due to an increased risk of Ukrainian military provocations, the Rosenergoatom chief's advisor Renat Karchaa told Interfax.
"Staffing numbers are being reduced to a level sufficient to keep the NPP running safely and in compliance with all nuclear safety norms, due to fears of further terrorist acts on Ukraine's part. Literally for two days," Karchaa said
Recently, the Ukrainian military has stepped up non-military drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, primarily residential buildings, in order to "increase anxiety, create negativity, [and] organize social turbulence," he said.
On September 8-10, Energodar is holding an election for the Zaporozhye regional legislature, Karchaa said. In particular, voters may use portable ballot boxes. Turnout on the first day stood at 21.6%.
"In our view, the voting process increases the risk of enemy terrorist activity," Karchaa said.
Many Zaporozhye NPP workers have dachas, and can use the extended weekend to go to the countryside while still exercising their voting rights thanks to the three-day voting period and the offsite work of electoral committees, he said.
The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units. The plant has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022. Two of its power units are undergoing maintenance, three are in a cold shutdown, and one in a hot shutdown to provide for the Zaporozhye NPP's own needs.
The NPP's facilities have been transferred to Russian ownership, and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant Federal State Unitary Enterprise was established. The operator is the Operating Organization of the Zaporozhye NPP, which was established by Rosenergoatom, part of Rosatom state corporation. Several IAEA experts have been deployed at the NPP on a rotating basis since September 1,