Russia Withdraws Personnel From Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Facility Amid Persistent Safety Concerns

Rosatom evacuates 108 staff from Bushehr as projectiles land near reactors, leaving a skeleton crew to manage the site.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 10:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Rosatom Scales Back Operations at Critical Iranian Site

The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation has announced a near total withdrawal of personnel from the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev confirmed that 108 workers are currently departing the facility, which was originally constructed by Russian engineers. This significant reduction in manpower leaves only 20 specialists on site to maintain a watch over the complex equipment, marking a sharp pivot in Russia’s operational presence within the Iranian energy sector.

Strategic Coordination with Tehran Amid Personnel Exit

According to Likhachev, the departure of Russian staff was not a unilateral move but was instead coordinated closely with Iranian authorities. Despite the mass evacuation, Russia continues to hold the contract for the expansion of the facility, which includes the construction of two additional nuclear reactors. The remaining small contingent of staff will focus on safeguarding existing infrastructure, though the broader timeline for future construction remains clouded by the current regional instability.

Projectile Hazards and Reactor Safety Concerns

The primary driver behind the withdrawal appears to be the physical danger posed by the US, Israeli, and Iranian conflict. Russia has expressed repeated alarm over projectiles landing within the territory of the Bushehr plant, with some reports indicating that munitions have struck dangerously close to the primary nuclear reactor. By removing the bulk of its technical workforce, Moscow is effectively mitigating the risk to its citizens while highlighting the precarious nature of operating sensitive nuclear infrastructure in an active war zone.