Ukraine: evacuation of civilian populations around Zaporizhzhia

The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has been occupied since 4 March 2022 by Russian forces (illustration). © ALEXANDER ERMOSHENKO / REUTERS

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The partial evacuation of civilians from the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzha appears to be intensifying. The IAEA warned on Saturday, May 6, 2023, that the situation had become "potentially dangerous" at the site and around the nuclear power plant located in the city of Enerhodar.

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With our correspondent in Moscow, Jean-Didier Revoin

For the mayor of Melitopol, one of the eighteen localities partially evacuated near the contact line in the Zaporizhzhia region, the evacuation decided on Friday, May 5 is too fast. He reported on Telegram that long queues were appearing at some checkpoints, bread was running out in some shops and gas stations in several localities were running out of fuel.

Children, parents and the elderly

On Friday, Yevgeny Balitsky, the head of the Zaporizhzhya region set up by Moscow, ordered the evacuation inside the region of children with their parents, the elderly, the disabled and patients from hospitals living in localities near the front line. Among the cities concerned is Enerhodar, home to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

If its employees are not evacuated, however, the International Atomic Energy Agency warns: given the multiple detonations heard in recent days near the plant, it believes that the situation is becoming increasingly unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

► Read also: Ukraine: the deminers, unwavering support of the soldiers on the front in Bakhmut

Concerns over Zaporizhzhia power plant ahead of Ukrainian counter-offensive

The area around the Zaporizhjia power plant site has been targeted several times since the beginning of the war; a backup power line that supplies the plant was damaged in early March and is still not repaired, which represents a "major risk" for the IAEA. The plant's workforce is reduced, but it is "sufficient" according to the Russian authorities. The concern is all the greater as the Ukrainian counter-offensive is expected to be imminent. The Russian authorities who control the region began to evacuate this weekend the population closest to the front line, it would concern 18 municipalities including that of Enerhodar where the plant is located according to the governor installed by Russia.

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• Russia
• Ukraine
• Nuclear
• IAEA
• Defense