Personnel Crisis at ZNPP as a Critical Threat to Nuclear Safety: UkrNS Has Sent an Official Appeal to Rafael Grossi

The Public Organization “Ukrainian Nuclear Society” (UkrNS), which unites more than 3,500 specialists of the Ukrainian nuclear industry, has sent an official letter to the IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi following a decision by its Board.

In the appeal, the Society declares its disagreement with the statement made by Rafael Grossi during his visit to Kyiv in April this year, claiming that the loss of qualified specialists at the occupied plant is “not a major issue” from a nuclear safety perspective. UkrNS emphasizes that this assessment by the IAEA Director General directly contradicts the actual scale of threats to nuclear safety.

UkrNS experts emphasize the critical personnel shortage, as the number of licensed employees who directly operate reactor installations and control critical parameters has decreased from 159 to 22 individuals. Such a lack of licensed personnel is dangerous even for the “cold shutdown” state of the power units. In total, out of the 11,000 pre-occupation personnel, only about 3,000 remain at the facility with access. The presence of Russian representatives does not solve the safety problem, as their qualification level is unknown, and their participation in the retention of the occupied NPP demonstrates a complete absence of a safety culture.

Furthermore, the safe operation of the facility is impossible due to constant psychological terror. According to investigations by the Truth Hounds organization, hundreds of Ukrainian nuclear workers have gone through Russian torture chambers and abuse. Currently, at least 14 ZNPP employees are illegally held in captivity, and 10 of them have already received unlawful sentences for terms up to 25 years.

UkrNS, as the largest industry organization in Ukraine, a full member of the European Nuclear Society (ENS), and a partner of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), on behalf of its more than 3,500 members, urges Rafael Grossi to use his international authority and leadership to protect the plant’s personnel. The Society insists on the objective coverage of the situation at the ZNPP at the international level to increase pressure on the RF and achieve the immediate release of the imprisoned Ukrainian nuclear workers, as the nuclear safety of the ZNPP directly depends on the freedom and safety of its legitimate personnel.