US CNN reported that Russia was preparing to withdraw from the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant complex, which has been occupied since the invasion of Ukraine.
Petro Kotin, president of the Ukraine Nuclear Power Corporation, said in a statement on the 27th (local time) that "we have received information that the Russian military appears to be preparing to leave the Zaporizhzhya nuclear complex."
In an interview with the Ukrainian media, he also said, "There are many reports in the Russian media that the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant should be left as it is or handed over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“It is still too early to say that the Russian forces are leaving the Zaporizhia nuclear plant,” said Kotin, “but they are preparing to leave.”
"Russia has stuffed everything it can into the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant complex, including military equipment and personnel, trucks, weapons and explosives, and even laid mines in the complex," he added.
CNN asked the IAEA for comment, but the IAEA said it did not release any information to support Cortin's comments.
"After the outbreak of the war, we stopped buying nuclear fuel from Russia, and we are currently stockpiling two years worth of nuclear fuel," Kotin said.
"We are working with Westinghouse to build our own fuel production line based on their technology," he added.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe that supplied 20% of Ukraine's electricity before the Russian invasion, was occupied by the Russian military in March.
Since then, as the nuclear power plant complex and surrounding areas have been constantly bombarded, power supply to the nuclear power plant has been cut off from time to time, raising concerns about a nuclear accident.
But Russia and Ukraine have mutually accused each other of shelling the nuclear complex.
(Photo = Yonhap News)