La Repubblica, one of Italy's largest and most influential national daily newspapers, has published an in-depth report on the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been under Russian occupation for more than three years.

Journalists describe the dangers facing Europe's largest nuclear power plant due to the occupation: a lack of water to cool the reactors, a lack of proper maintenance, and a staffing crisis, as the Russians do not have enough specialists to operate the plant.

The article quotes Igor Kotelnytskyi, head of the NGO Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, who shared information from station employees who remain under occupation:

"The vast majority feel like hostages: they cannot leave the station and are wholeheartedly waiting for the day when the occupiers will be expelled. They feel that the world has forgotten about them. And in recent days, on the eve of the summit in Alaska between Putin and Trump, I heard enormous anger and frustration from them. Many of their families left long ago for territory controlled by Ukraine."

The article also mentions that two-thirds of the residents of the satellite town of Energodar have left their homes since the occupation began. Those who remain, including those forced to work at the station under Rosatom's control, dream of the day of liberation.

La Repubblica's publication once again emphasises:

- ZNPP employees are hostages who find themselves in extremely dangerous conditions;

- the situation at the plant poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to the whole of Europe;

- international attention and pressure are critically needed to force Russia to withdraw its troops from the plant and release the staff.

Read the full article in Italian: Zaporizhzhia, il destino della centrale nucleare nello scambio dei territori tra Russia e Ucraina – La Repubblica

The Association systematically documents war crimes, works to free civilians and support their families.

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