Russian military builds presence at ZNPP and establishes firing positions

An employee still working at the plant told Suspilniy on condition of anonymity.

According to him, there is no sign that the occupants are going to leave Zaporizhzhya. On the contrary - the Russians are continuing to build up their presence.

Earlier, the Russians have not been so active. At first they were digging trenches around the industrial site, closer to the city. As a non-military person I think it was more to keep them busy. Now they are doing it in a more technological way - they are setting up firing points inside the premises of the plant and it looks as if they are going to wage war there," says the Zaporizhzhia NPP worker.

He added that the occupiers can organize a sabotage because they cannot be prevented. But now there is an impression that they are preparing for a battle.

Journalists also asked the plant worker whether any representatives of Rosatom were present at the ZNPP. According to him, they are still there because many Ukrainians have left the plant. So far, there is a big shortage of personnel at Zaporizhzhya NPP.

A large number are people from Russian plants. They came in waves. A fourth has already arrived and the first ones who arrived in January worked for six months and went home. I think it's a planned rotation and new ones will come to replace them," said the worker.

He added that the Russians hamper the work of the IAEA by restricting the representatives' movement and access to information:

It is impossible to influence them (IAEA - ed.) directly and tell them what to say. Another thing is that they are like hostages at the station. They have limited access and restricted routes of movement. They are provided with information by the Russian side and they form their opinions on the situation. They discuss all their plans with the station management and the FSB is present at the meetings.

Earlier it was reported that the Russians are preparing an attack on the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP. According to Kiryl Budanov, the occupiers have already developed and approved a plan. One of the enemy's plans, according to the president, is to blow up the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant remotely when it comes back under Ukrainian control. Intelligence then reported that the plant had additionally mined the cooling pond.

Amid the heated atmosphere, Iryna Vereshchuk, head of the Ministry of Reintegration, called for the evacuation of all those who live close to the plant. And the Ministry of Health developed a set of recommendations in case the Russians decide to carry out an act of terrorism.