Ninety-two operational personnel at Ukraine’s Chernobyl plant are being held hostage by Russian forces, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday.
As plant personnel are being held hostage, they cannot work shifts and follow the strict regulations the plant requires, she said.
The responsibility of the plant now “depends on Russian forces and the Russian army,” Markarova said. Ukraine is reaching out to all nuclear regulators and other countries to alert them to the situation at Chernobyl, she added.
“In defending these plants, we are trying to be very responsible and careful that there is no damage to it. We can’t say the same about the Russian Federation, so that’s why we’re warning and that’s why we’re reaching out to everyone,” said Markarova.
The White House on Thursday condemned Russia for taking civilian hostages from the Chernobyl energy facilities in northern Ukraine and demanded their immediate release.
“We are outraged by credible reports that Russian soldiers are holding officials at the Chernobyl facility hostage,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday.
“This illegal and dangerous hostage taking, which could undermine routine civil service efforts needed to maintain and protect nuclear waste facilities, is obviously incredibly alarming and very concerning. We condemn him and ask for his release.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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