Russia Evacuates 175 Nuclear Personnel From Bushehr Plant as Conflict With Iran Intensifies

Moscow evacuates 175 Rosatom employees from Iran via Armenia, bringing the total number of repatriated Russian citizens to 509 during the ongoing conflict.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 10:07 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AA (Anadolu Agency)

Nuclear Staff Departure Amid Heightened Regional Risk

The Russian government announced on Tuesday the successful departure of 175 additional employees previously stationed at an Iranian nuclear installation. These individuals, who were working at the Bushehr nuclear power plant, were evacuated across the Nurduz-Agarak border crossing into Armenia. Following their arrival in the neighboring country, the staff boarded a specialized flight to Moscow on Monday, marking a significant reduction in Russia’s technical footprint at the strategic site as security conditions in Iran deteriorate.

Repatriation Figures via the Armenian Corridor

According to data released by the Russian Embassy in Yerevan, the latest movement of personnel is part of a broader exodus of Russian nationals from the conflict zone. Since the start of the joint US-Israeli offensive, a total of 509 Russian citizens have utilized Armenia as a primary transit point for returning home. Moscow expressed deep gratitude toward Armenian authorities for facilitating the safe passage of employees from Rosatom, the state-run atomic energy corporation responsible for maintaining the Bushehr facility.

Rosatom Phased Evacuation Strategy

Alexey Likhachev, the head of Rosatom, confirmed on Sunday that the majority of Russian specialists at the Bushehr plant have been successfully removed from the country. Despite the significant departures on Monday, the evacuation process is not yet complete. Likhachev indicated that another wave of personnel transfers is scheduled for the coming week, suggesting that a skeleton crew may remain to oversee critical safety protocols until the planned final stages of the withdrawal are executed.