“Escape Plan Launched from Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant by Call of Russia”
Russia Orders Evacuation in Occupied Ukrainian Region Amid Fears of Nuclear Accident
Russia has ordered the evacuation of the Zaporozhye region in Ukraine, which it occupies, over fears that the Ukrainian army may counterattack the region. Thousands of vehicles have hit the roads, causing congestion of up to five hours, according to the Ukrainian Mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov. The United Nations has warned of a potential “nuclear accident” in the region, with Rafael Grossi, President of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating that the situation in Zaporizhia is becoming increasingly uncertain.
In an official statement, the IAEA underlined its “deep concern” about the condition of the personnel and their families who continue to be at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. It confirmed that an evacuation is taking place from the nearby city of Enerhodar. Yevgeny Balitsky, the official appointed by Russia to the occupied region, stated on social media that the Ukrainian army has intensified its attacks on positions in the area, prompting his decision to evacuate children, women, the elderly, the disabled, and the sick.
The IAEA had previously issued a warning about the safety of the power plant due to temporary power cuts in the region. The institution provided generators for the plant’s vital cooling systems after outages in March. Most of the Zaporozhye region is under Russian control, while its capital, Zaporizhia, is under Ukrainian control.
