Trade unionists call for freedom for the Zaporizhzhia 15 at public meeting with Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant rep Khrystyna Levchenko, UNISON HQ, London, 27 August

The following statement calling for freedom for the imprisoned Zaporizhzhia nuclear workers has been issued by the leaders of 22 UK trade unions.

Joint Statement from Trade Union Leaders

For the Release of Imprisoned Ukrainian Union Members at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

We call on the UK Government to take urgent action in support of Ukrainian workers at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), who are being abused and detained by the Russian occupation authorities.  Since the seizure of the plant, civilian staff have faced intimidation and violence aimed at forcing them to accept Russian citizenship and sign contracts with Russia’s State Corporation for Atomic Energy, Rosatom.

An estimated 1,000 workers have been subjected to abuse and torture, and only 3,000 of the original 11,000 employees remain. Their treatment — and the drastic reduction in staffing — has placed the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power station at grave risk.

Fifteen members and representatives of the Nuclear Energy and Industry Workers’ Union of Ukraine (AtomProfSpilka) have been abducted, tortured and subjected to show trials on fabricated charges, receiving prison sentences of up to 25 years. We call for the immediate release of all the detained (ZNPP) trade union members and full sanctions on Rosatom.

Signed by the following trade union General Secretaries:

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