100 Chernobyl technicians in Russian 'concentration camp' amid nuclear disaster fears

dailystar.co.uk:

Russian soldiers are holding 100 Chernobyl technicians 'like prisoners in a concentration camp' amid warnings that Vladimir Putin's men could cause a nuclear disaster.

The technicians have reportedly been working at gun point to maintain safety at the nuclear power plant, which was captured by Russia on the first day of the invasion of Ukraine.

One engineer has said the current situation at Chernobyl is "against international nuclear safety regulations".They added that there are "deeply worried" about a possible nuclear disaster given that power to the plant has already been cut off and reconnected several times.There are also concerns regarding spent fuel stockpiles, with the storage pool "overpacked by 40%".On Sunday locals in Slavutych, the city built to house the site's workers following the 1986 disaster, protested against the technicians' treatment and the possible nuclear risk.One woman there told local media: "Our boys are not just hostages but prisoners in a Russian concentration camp."The wife of one of the those trapped in Chernobyl explained that they are only given two small meals every day.She said: "Physically and morally, they are exhausted."They think that no one cares about them, neither the Russian government nor the Ukrainian government."They can take a shower, but with no soap, no shampoo, they can't brush their teeth.

They can't change their clothes or wash them. There is no supply of medicines. They are sleeping on the floor, on some desks or on chairs."On top of the 100 trapped technicians there is thought to be another 100 people detained, auxiliary workers such as security personnel.Another relative of someone trapped accused Russia of trying to downplay the situation at Chernobyl.