A Ukrainian engineer on Wednesday was appointed the brand new head of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant, occupied by Russian forces for the reason that first days of their offensive in Ukraine.
Yuri Chernichuk, the plant’s former chief engineer, mentioned he had agreed to take the put up as a result of it was “for my part the one right resolution.”
His appointment was confirmed by Moscow’s Rosenergoatom, the Russian nuclear operator which has de facto managed the plant — Europe’s largest — since its occupation by Russian forces.
In a press release on social media, Chernichuk mentioned his precedence was to “stick with our folks at our plant, in our metropolis and proceed to fulfil my skilled responsibility.”
He praised the “bravery” of the plant’s employees.
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“Now we have finished and are doing every part doable and unattainable in order that the world doesn’t see a brand new Fukushima or Chernobyl,” he added.
“This deserves unconditional recognition and nice respect, not accusations of treachery.”
He known as on worldwide organisations to “resolve the problem of the long run and secure operation of the Zaporizhzhia plant solely by way of peaceable negotiations and civilised selections.”
Moscow’s troops took management of the positioning on March 4.
Russia and Ukraine have for months mutually accused one another of shelling the plant.
The UN’s atomic watchdog earlier this month denounced strikes on the plant, calling for a “cease to this insanity.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a level to formally take over the plant in October.