Moscow, Russia – Alexei Likhachev, CEO of the Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced that the situation at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant is heading towards the “worst-case scenario” possible, confirming that Russian staffing levels within the facility have begun to be reduced to the operational minimum as a result of the rapidly deteriorating security situation.
Land evacuation and warnings of escalation risk
Reuters quoted Likhachev on Wednesday as saying that the company had launched the “third phase” of an emergency plan to evacuate its employees and Russian specialists from the plant.
He explained that a group of employees had already left by land on Wednesday morning toward the Iranian-Armenian border, while two other groups were preparing to leave within the next few hours. This move is intended to ensure the safety of the Russian personnel who oversee the operation of the 1,000-megawatt plant.
Bushehr targeted for the second time in a week
This decisive Russian decision came after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), citing official statements from Tehran, confirmed that the Bushehr nuclear power plant had been directly hit by a projectile on Tuesday. Likhachev confirmed the incident, noting that the attack targeted an area very close to one of the plant’s operational units, but resulted in no casualties. This attack marks the second such incident targeting the vital nuclear facility in just the past week, raising widespread international concern about the safety of nuclear reactors amidst the ongoing military conflict in the region. Despite initial assurances from Iranian media that the incident caused no financial or technical losses or damage to the plant’s infrastructure, Russia’s swift action reflects a more serious security assessment on the ground.
Forced reduction until the situation stabilizes
Rosatom indicated that it would temporarily reduce its staff at the plant to the lowest possible level to ensure the facility’s basic protection, and that this decision would remain in effect until the security situation stabilizes and direct attacks on the site cease. The Bushehr plant is considered the cornerstone of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, and its operation and maintenance rely heavily on Russian expertise and equipment. This development poses a significant challenge to Russian-Iranian relations in the nuclear energy sector, as Russia’s partial withdrawal from the plant reflects the extent of the geopolitical and military risks currently surrounding Iran’s strategic facilities, which could lead to a complete shutdown of electricity production at the plant if the escalation continues.
