Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Staffing Crisis Amid Russian Evacuation
Ukraine's atomic energy company, Energoatom, has warned of a potential "catastrophic lack of qualified personnel" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine due to Russia's plan to relocate around 2,700 Ukrainian staff. The plant was captured by Russian forces in February 2022, and the exact number of workers currently at the plant is not known. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that low staffing levels "seriously compromised" nuclear safety and security. The evacuation order of civilians from the area, including plant workers, has fuelled fears of a potential catastrophic incident.