Rosatom Evacuates Families from Bushehr Nuclear Plant Over Safety

MOSCOW (Azat TV) – Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, has commenced the second stage of evacuating family members and a portion of personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, citing escalating regional tensions and prioritizing the safety of its workers. The decision comes as the broader Middle East conflict intensifies, impacting air travel and raising concerns about critical infrastructure.

Rosatom Prioritizes Personnel Safety at Bushehr NPP

Alexey Likhachev, the head of Rosatom, announced the readiness for this second phase of “headcount optimization,” which involves relocating families and some employees to Russia. “We have completed preparations for the second stage of optimizing the headcount, namely the evacuation of family members and part of the personnel to Russia. We will be moving them to a safe place in the near future,” Likhachev stated in an interview with the corporate newspaper Strana Rosatom. He emphasized that personnel security is the company’s top priority, with over 600 individuals involved in the construction and maintenance of the plant. Consequently, main construction work at the site has been temporarily suspended, although some personnel remain to service essential equipment and complete critical, non-stoppable tasks.

Escalating Regional Tensions Impact Operations

The situation around the Bushehr NPP is described as “difficult,” although Likhachev confirmed that no direct strikes on the station, its construction site, or residential settlements have been recorded. The decision to evacuate is a direct response to the heightened tensions following large-scale attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, which began on February 28 and have reportedly resulted in over 1,300 casualties, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. These events have triggered retaliatory drone and missile strikes from Tehran targeting Israel and Gulf countries housing U.S. assets. President Vladimir Putin is reportedly personally involved in ensuring the safety of Rosatom employees in Iran, with Likhachev regularly briefing the country’s leadership on the situation.

Broader Evacuations Amidst Regional Instability

The evacuation from Bushehr is part of a larger Russian effort to bring its citizens home from the Middle East. Reports indicate that around 4,500 Russians are expected to return from the UAE and Oman via evacuation flights. The conflict has also disrupted air travel, leaving some Russian tourists stranded in locations like Qatar. Amidst these developments, Rosatom CEO warned of a rising threat to the Bushehr nuclear plant itself, with the construction of two new units suspended due to ongoing attacks. The Bushehr plant, Iran’s only operational nuclear facility and a critical strategic energy site in the region, began commercial operation in 2013 after construction started in 1975. Russia’s Consulate in Dubai has reportedly referred to stranded travelers as “orphans” and “anti-social,” highlighting the logistical and humanitarian challenges arising from the crisis.

The decision to evacuate personnel and their families from the Bushehr nuclear plant underscores the tangible impact of the escalating Middle East conflict on Russia’s strategic interests and its citizens abroad, signaling a heightened level of concern beyond diplomatic rhetoric.