The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) belongs to Russia and will remain under its control, director Yury Chernichyuk has insisted, rejecting any possibility of US or Ukrainian oversight, RT reported this citing TASS.
His remarks follow reports that US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky recently discussed Washington taking control of Ukraine’s energy sector, including its nuclear facilities. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright later suggested that managing Soviet-era plants would pose “no problem” for the US.
Speaking to TASS on Saturday, Chernichyuk dismissed such proposals. “No one will have control over our station, no matter how much they want it,” he said. “I am not aware of any instance where something like this has happened simply through negotiations.”
The director reaffirmed that the ZNPP is part of Russia and will operate under its laws. The plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, has been under Moscow’s control since March 2022, following a referendum later that year in which Zaporozhye Region voted to join Russia.
Operations at the facility have been largely suspended since mid-2023 due to security concerns, including artillery and drone attacks, as well as disrupted water supplies. Moscow and Kiev have blamed each other for endangering the plant’s safety. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has maintained a monitoring mission there since September 2022.
Earlier this month, Zelensky argued that the plant could not function without Ukrainian oversight, saying it would require both funding and specialists to resume operations.
The ZNPP is currently managed by a subsidiary of Russia’s state energy giant Rosatom. The subsidiary’s CEO stated in December that the plant will be restarted once security conditions allow.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
