Chernobyl plant staff relieved for the first time in weeks

For the first time since the war in Ukraine, personnel from the old Chernobyl nuclear power plant have been relieved. About half were replaced by other Ukrainian personnel on Sunday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported.

The nuclear power plant was taken by Russian troops on February 24, with the result that the personnel present have worked continuously since then. “They were there way too long. I sincerely hope that the other employees of this shift can also rotate quickly,” said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.

According to Grossi, the staff has worked under “extremely stressful and exhausting conditions in the presence of foreign forces and without proper rest”. He said the “challenging and uncertain situation” has underlined the importance of an IAEA initiative to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.

The Chernobyl plant has not been generating electricity itself for years, but it is still manned because radioactive waste is stored. In 1986 the worst nuclear disaster ever took place here. Ukraine has four working nuclear power plants. One of these, the largest in Europe, is also in Russian hands.