[キーウ（キエフ） １６日 ロイター] – A Ukrainian engineer at the Russian-occupied Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine gave an interview to Archyde.com and testified to a tense working environment. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Technicians face heavy pressure from Russia, but said they remain to prevent a Chernobyl-like disaster from happening.
The technicians were interviewed on the condition that they not identify themselves for fear of Russian retaliation. Many workers evacuated their families from the town of Enerjodar, where the plant is located, but they stayed because of the safe operation of the plant.
“We have to work because a catastrophe like Chernobyl in 1986 could make things worse,” he said. He says there are heavily armed Russian soldiers everywhere at the plant, and they sometimes don’t let workers go home as soon as they finish their shift.
“They find reasons to keep[the workers]out, like artillery fire,” he said. “They are walking around the property with guns all the time. It’s mentally and psychologically very taxing,” he said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to be reached for comment.