MOSCOW – Russia has begun a major evacuation of 198 personnel from Iran’s Bushehr atomic plant following a US-Israeli projectile strike near the facility, Russian state media reported Saturday.
This marks the third evacuation of Russian staff from the southern Iranian Gulf Coast plant, which was built with Moscow’s assistance. About 100 Russian employees remain at the site for ongoing operations.
According to Iranian state media, the area around Bushehr has been struck four times since the conflict began. The latest attack killed one guard but did not damage the nuclear plant itself.
“As planned, we began the main phase of the evacuation today,” said Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia’s nuclear agency Rosatom, quoted by TASS. “About 20 minutes after that ill-fated strike, buses departed from Bushehr station towards the Iranian-Armenian border, carrying 198 people. This is the largest evacuation so far.”
Likhachev confirmed that Russia informed both the US and Israel about the evacuation in advance. He also stressed the heightened risk of a nuclear incident due to repeated attacks near the facility.
The evacuation comes amid rising international concern over the safety of nuclear facilities in conflict zones. Experts have warned that repeated strikes near Bushehr increase the likelihood of serious accidents if safety protocols are disrupted.
Rosatom officials confirmed that emergency procedures were in place to protect staff during the evacuation. Security measures around the plant have been reinforced to prevent further threats.
The Bushehr atomic plant remains operational, and Iranian authorities have assured the public that no damage occurred to critical infrastructure. However, the recent projectile strike has intensified fears among both Russian and Iranian personnel.
Russia’s evacuation underscores the growing tension in the region and highlights the potential risks of military activity near nuclear facilities. The situation is being closely monitored by international agencies.
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Officials continue to coordinate logistics and security for the remaining staff. The evacuation of 198 workers from Iran’s Bushehr plant demonstrates Russia’s commitment to safeguarding its personnel amid increasing threats.
