Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has designated the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant a federal asset of Russia, but the Ukrainian government’s energy ministry has rejected the declaration.
Despite being forcibly taken by the Russian military in March of this year, Putin proclaimed the official control of the Nuclear Power Plant on Wednesday.
Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, leading to a war between both countries. This has affected global trades, especially oil and grains markets.
Announcing the annexation, Putin said, “The Russian government shall take measures to establish federal ownership of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and other facilities necessary for its operation.”
The President reportedly instructed his government to establish a federal state unitary company for the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, according to the Russian news agency Tass. This will give the joint-stock company that operates the plant the status of an organisation that engages in nuclear energy operations.
In response, Ukraine’s state energy agency, Energoatom, reject the decree, stating that decisions about the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant will be made by the body, not Putin.
The energy chief, Petro Kotin, in a video reported by Reuters, said, “All further decisions regarding the operation of the station will be made directly at the central office of Energoatom.”
Kotin added, “We will continue to work under Ukrainian law, within the Ukrainian energy system, within Energoatom.”
Meanwhile, since Russia took over the Nuclear Power Plant in March, the Ukrianians working at the plant have reportedly been working under Russian military supervision.
