Images shared on social media show that Russian forces have reinforced their military presence inside the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, in southern Ukraine.
The photos, shared by the channel Skelety Shevchyka i Ko, reveal at least four BTR-80 armored vehicles, firing positions, and soldiers armed with Pecheneg machine guns, indicating that an infantry unit has been permanently stationed at the nuclear facility.
According to experts, the use of such weaponry inside a nuclear power plant is not related to protecting the facility but rather to military objectives, increasing the risk of incidents at one of Europe’s largest atomic sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had already reported restrictions imposed by Russian forces on inspectors’ access to strategic areas, such as the diesel fuel depot, preventing the verification of safety conditions.
The site has been under Russian control since March 2022, after fighting in the city of Enerhodar. Although it continues to be operated by Ukrainian technicians, the plant is managed under the supervision of the Russian state-owned company Rosatom, which pressures workers to obtain Russian citizenship.
In 2023, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence attempted several times to retake control of the plant, located on the banks of the Dnipro River.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: Telegram – Skelety Shevchyka i Ko | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
