ANTHONY LOYD | WAR IN UKRAINE

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant evacuation feeds fears of sabotage

Ukraine intelligence chief accuses Kremlin of planting mines in power station
Staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant practise emergency drills in the event of an accident at the power station. Russian troops and officials have begun a partial evacuation of the facility
Staff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant practise emergency drills in the event of an accident at the power station. Russian troops and officials have begun a partial evacuation of the facility
ZUMA PRESS/COVER IMAGES

Russian troops and key officials stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have begun a partial evacuation that is raising fear of sabotage, the chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence service said yesterday.

Kyrylo Budanov, director of the GUR, had earlier alleged that the Kremlin had planted explosives at four of the plant’s six power units and cooling system. The claims were backed by President Zelensky, who said last week that Russia was planning a “terrorist attack” on the nuclear station.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, is located near the town of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine. The plant has been occupied by Russia since early March last year, shortly after Moscow’s invasion.

The GUR said that Ukrainian staff working for Russia’s state-owned nuclear company,