Russianforces controllingUkraine's Zaporizhzhianuclearpower plant have killedtwostaff at the facility and detainedand abuseddozensof others, the headof Ukraine's nuclearenergyagencytoldAFP on Friday.The Zaporizhzhiaplant the largestin Europe wascapturedby Russiantroopsin March.
An uptickin fightingarounditin recentweekshas raisedfearsof a nucleardisasterwithbothMoscow and Kyivblamingthe otherfor the escalation."A regimeof harassmentof personnel wasgraduallyestablished," followingthe Russiantakeover, Petro Kotinsaid."Twopeople werebeatento death.
Wedo not know whereabout tenpeople are now, theyweretaken [by the Russians] and afterthatwehave no information about theirwhereabouts," Kotinsaid, addingabout 200 people hadbeen detained.He describedthe currentsituation at the plant as "verydifficult," citing"torture" of staff and "beatingsof personnel.""The Russianslook for pro-Ukrainianpeople and persecutethem.
People are psychologicallybroken," hesaidin an interview withAFP reporters in hisoffice in Kyiv.Frequentshellingof the plant includingthe townof Energodarwherethe facilityislocated meansstaff have been tryingto securesafepassage for familymembersto leavethe area, Kotinsaid."Twopeople on the territoryof the plant werewoundedduringshelling a womanand a man on separateoccasions," Kotin, cladin a military-style jacket, said."But people understandthatthe nuclearsafetyof the plant dependson them, sothe employeesreturn to Energodarand continue workingat the facility," headded.The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dispatcheda 14-strong mission last weekto the plant and releaseda report followingthe inspection.Kotinsaiditdescribeddifficultpsychologicalworkingconditions at the plant thatultimatelyamountedto "a violation of nuclearradiation safety.""This situation must becorrectedas soonas possible," hetoldAFP.The IAEA in itsreport calledfor "the immediateestablishment of a nuclearsafetyand securityprotection zone" aroundthe plant as itfaces an "untenable" situation.But Kotinsaidtherewasroom for interpretationthere."If thisisthe demilitarizationof the nuclearplant, wefullysupport it.
If itis...the creationof somesecurityzones withjoint control alongwiththe Russians, thenthisisof course an unacceptabledecisionfor us," Kotinsaid."Wewillinsiston creatinga demilitarizedzone aroundthe plant, includingwiththe participation of peacekeepinggroups," headded.KotinalsosaidUkraine insiststhatRussiaremovemilitaryhardware fromthe plant and thatstaff fromRussiannuclearagencyRosatomalsoleavethe area."For this, international partnersneedto put alot of pressure onRussiato meetconditions thatthe Ukrainianauthoritiesand the IAEA have made."Kotinaddedall power linesconnectedto the plant have been severedas a resultof shellingand the onlyreactorstillon "isoperating at a verylowpower level."If thesepower linesare not restored, Kotinsaid, the station willgo intoblackout mode and willbeable to relyonlyon diesel engines "to cool the nuclearmaterial."The headof the IAEA meanwhileon Friday echoedthe point, sayingnearbyshellinghadcauseda blackout in Energodarand compromisedsafeoperationof the plant.DirectorGeneral Rafael Grossi in a statementon social media describedthe recentshellingas a "dramaticdevelopment.""This iscompletelyunacceptable.
It cannotstand," headded."It isnecessaryto renewthe communication line withthe Ukrainianpower system as soonas possible and supplyitwithpower fromexternalsources of energysupply," Kotinstressed.