Information announced by General Director of Russian Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev on March 3.
Currently there are 639 people there, all Russian citizens. There are no more children, we have evacuated them. The number of women remaining is not large, but many do not want to leave because they want to stay with their husbands during this difficult period. However, as soon as the military situation allows, when there is a period of silence between airstrikes, we will evacuate about 150-200 people" - Mr. Likhachev said.
According to Rosatom leaders, buses have been prepared and evacuation routes have been calculated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed that "political support will be needed" as the evacuation of Russian personnel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant begins.
Mr. Alexey Likhachev also added that Rosatom has completely lost contact with the leaders of the Iranian nuclear industry.
Unfortunately, we cannot contact the leadership of the entire Iranian nuclear industry: They do not answer the phone, nor do they reply to emails," he said. He also said that the actual situation of those involved is not yet clear.
Rosatom believes that uranium enrichment facilities in Fordow and Natanz of Iran were attacked. In addition, a large nuclear complex in Tehran, where the Tehran research reactor is located, was also hit. "We still do not know the extent of the damage" - Rosatom CEO said.
An attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which contains 70 tons of fuel and 210 tons of used nuclear fuel, would cause a regional disaster.
We must understand that the reactor is operating at full capacity. It contains 72 tons of fuel and 210 tons of used fuel. This is a huge amount of fissile material. In case of attack, it will certainly be a regional disaster. This is something that all warring parties must understand, regardless of which political party they belong to," Mr. Likhachev said.
Rosatom leaders asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to reiterate his opposition to all risks, especially direct attacks on nuclear facilities in contacts with Israeli, US, Arab and Persian Gulf leaders.
Rosatom experts "have an obligation to do everything possible to minimize risks in the current conditions," he noted.
Work at the construction site of the Bushehr nuclear power plant has been completely suspended. "We are monitoring very closely to ensure that workers do not leave residential areas - there are 2 residential areas there, one old and one new - and to minimize their presence at operating construction sites," he said.
The construction of new units at the Bushehr nuclear power plant will still be a top priority for Rosatom. "This project will still be one of our priorities. We understand our responsibility to the people and government of Iran in implementing the Bushehr project" - Mr. Likhachev affirmed.
