Russians kidnapped children of ZNPP workers. What is known?
20 March 2025 19:57
The occupiers forcibly took the children of some employees of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Russia to force the nuclear workers to stay at the plant.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a conference after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Har Stere, [Komersant] reports.
“They (Russians – ed.) took children from many of them, put them on buses and took them to the territory of the Russian Federation. This is how people work. That’s the way it is. You would do anything for a child. I’m sure you think the same way. I can tell you this as a father,” the president said.
In addition, Zelenskyy noted that all the nuclear engineers who are currently servicing the plant are Ukrainians, and the plant itself is the property of Ukraine, which is recognized by the IAEA and other international institutions.
“ZNPP belongs to Ukraine, and everyone recognizes this. Moreover, the personnel who work there are the personnel who received regular salaries from Ukraine. Yes, [the Russians] illegally changed the management of the plant, but all the employees there are Ukrainians,” he emphasized.
Zelensky also emphasized that, despite the IAEA monitoring and various inspections, the station is now in a “difficult technical condition.”
“Everyone understands that the station must be constantly cooled, and for this it is necessary to maintain it properly. After the Russians blew up the dam, there is no normal water supply there. Therefore, the plant is now in very difficult technical conditions,” the Ukrainian leader said.
What is known about the abduction of ZNPP workers?
In July 2022, Zaporizhzhia NPP employees and their relatives said that more than 40 people from among the plant’s staff were held captive by the occupiers. They were kidnapped for ransom. At the same time, the Russian military took two more nuclear workers to an unknown destination. And three months later, in October, the occupiers kidnapped Valerii Martyniuk, Deputy Director General of Zaporizhzhia NPP from the staff.
In April 2023, Energoatom reported that the Russians had kidnapped four NPP employees who were considered loyal to the invaders. Among the detainees was Mark Volkov, the “deputy head” of the physical protection service. According to Energoatom, he “contributed in every way to the illegal activities of the invaders.”
In July of the same year, the occupiers kidnapped Serhii Poting, a labor protection engineer at the plant. According to Energoatom, the man was seen in the “police station” where the Russians were holding townspeople and ZNPP employees. They regularly tortured the engineer and did not press charges at the time.
In February 2025, Russians took two Ukrainian power engineers who worked at ZNPP hostage. They were taken prisoner while working at the plant.
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The invaders forcibly took the children of some Zaporizhzhia NPP employees to Russia to force the nuclear workers to stay at the plant.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a conference after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Har Stere, reports
“They (Russians – ed.) took children from many of them, put them on buses and took them to the territory of the Russian Federation. This is how people work. It’s just the way it is. You would do anything for a child. I’m sure you think the same way. I can tell you this as a father,” the president said.
In addition, Zelenskyy noted that all the nuclear engineers who are currently servicing the plant are Ukrainians, and the plant itself is the property of Ukraine, which is recognized by the IAEA and other international institutions.
“ZNPP belongs to Ukraine, and everyone recognizes this. Moreover, the personnel who work there are the personnel who received regular salaries from Ukraine. Yes, [the Russians] illegally changed the management of the plant, but all the employees there are Ukrainians,” he emphasized.
Zelensky also emphasized that, despite the IAEA monitoring and various inspections, the station is now in a “difficult technical condition.”
“Everyone understands that the station must be constantly cooled, and for this it is necessary to maintain it properly. After the Russians blew up the dam, there is no normal water supply there. Therefore, the plant is now in very difficult technical conditions,” the Ukrainian leader said.
What is known about the abduction of ZNPP workers?
In July 2022, Zaporizhzhia NPP employees and their relatives said that more than 40 people from among the plant’s staff were held captive by the occupiers. They were kidnapped for ransom. At the same time, the Russian military took two more nuclear workers to an unknown destination. And three months later, in October, the occupiers kidnapped Valerii Martyniuk, Deputy Director General of Zaporizhzhia NPP from the staff.
In April 2023, Energoatom reported that the Russians had kidnapped four NPP employees who were considered loyal to the invaders. Among the detainees was Mark Volkov, the “deputy head” of the physical protection service. According to Energoatom, he “contributed in every way to the illegal activities of the invaders.”
In July of the same year, the occupiers kidnapped Serhii Poting, a labor protection engineer at the plant. According to Energoatom, the man was seen in the “police station” where the Russians were holding townspeople and ZNPP employees. They regularly tortured the engineer and did not press charges at the time.
In February 2025, Russians took two Ukrainian power engineers who worked at ZNPP hostage. They were taken prisoner while working at the plant.
