“STABILIZING TO A MINIMUM”: Russia Evacuates 163 More Personnel from Bushehr Following Second Strike
MOSCOW / BUSHEHR — In a clear signal of the growing risks to nuclear infrastructure, Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, that it has evacuated a further 163 staff members from Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. This marks the “third stage” of a phased withdrawal as regional hostilities enter their most volatile phase yet.
Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev stated that the company is temporarily reducing its presence to a “minimum” until the security situation stabilizes. Approximately 300 Russian specialists remain at the site, down from nearly 500 earlier this month.
The Trigger: Tuesday Night Strike
The decision to accelerate the evacuation follows a “projectile strike” that hit the area adjacent to the plant’s No. 1 power unit at approximately 9:00 PM Moscow time (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, March 24.
- Damage Report: According to the IAEA and Iranian authorities, there was no damage to the reactor itself and no injuries to staff. The plant continues to operate normally with stable radiation levels.
- Proximity: This was the second “near-miss” in just over a week. On March 17, a structure only 350 meters from the reactor was reportedly destroyed in a similar strike.
- Russian Outrage: Moscow has condemned the strikes as “extremely dangerous,” with Likhachev emphasizing that the “health and lives of our people are our top priority.”
IAEA Calls for “Maximum Restraint”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi have issued an urgent plea for all parties to respect the “seven indispensable pillars” of nuclear safety.
“Any attack at or near nuclear power plants violates the principles of international law. Even near-misses could lead to severe radiological consequences.” — IAEA Statement, March 25, 2026
Status of Construction at Bushehr
While Unit 1 remains operational and connected to the Iranian grid, the broader expansion of the site has ground to a halt.
| Project Phase | Current Status |
| Unit 1 (Operating) | Functioning normally; manned by a skeleton crew of Russian and Iranian specialists. |
| Units 2 & 3 (Construction) | Suspended since the war began on February 28. |
| Family Evacuation | All children and families of Russian employees were preemptively evacuated in early March. |
| Future Outlook | Rosatom plans to leave only “a few dozen” personnel on-site if the situation continues to deteriorate. |
What’s Next?
The evacuation comes as President Trump maintains a Friday morning deadline (sunrise, March 27) for Iran to accept a 15-point peace plan. If the “total infrastructure phase” of the war begins tomorrow, the Bushehr plant—despite its Russian presence—may find itself in the center of the crosshairs as the U.S. and Israel target Iran’s national power grid.