The SSU and the Prosecutor General’s Office have collected evidence against two russian citizens who organized the disconnection of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from Ukraine’s energy system.

These are Eduard Atakishchev, ‘deputy director’ of the seized NPP, and his subordinate, chief engineer Andriy Gorbunov.

According to the investigation, before the ‘appointment’, they worked at Rostov NPP, russia.

They arrived in the temporarily occupied territory of southern Ukraine and in early October 2022 joined the Zaporizhzhia NPP management.

The ‘managers’ were then engaged in the ‘integration’ of the power facility into Rosatom structure and the connection of the plant’s technological capacities to the russian energy system.

The ‘officials’ also incited Ukrainian nuclear scientists to cooperate with the aggressor and sign ‘contracts’ with the occupation administration of the power plant.

In case of refusal, they threatened them with persecution by russian repressive authorities.

Based on the evidence collected, the SSU notified Atakishchev and Gorbunov of suspicion in absentia under two Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 438.1 (violation of laws and customs of war);
• 27.4, 28.2, 111.2 (incitement to commit high treason, under martial law, upon prior conspiracy).

Efforts are underway to bring them to prosecution for their crimes against Ukraine.