Today, a special event has taken place at the office of NNEGC “Energoatom” within the framework of traditional educational activities. Children of the Zaporizhzhia NPP employees – high school students who were forced to leave Energodar due to the occupation and now live in Kyiv with their families, have visited the company.

The conversation conducted by the specialists of the Directorate for Strategic Communications with the young listeners concerned the impact of nuclear power plants on the environment. However, it quickly has gone beyond a specific educational topic and turned into a warm, almost family-like meeting of the residents of Energodar.

Some of the children witnessed the events of early March 2022, when both the town and the Zaporizhzhia NPP were under occupation, so the topic of nuclear energy has a special, deeply personal and emotional meaning for them.

Being children of nuclear employees, they are familiar with the fundamentals of the NPP operation. Therefore, they have had an opportunity to deepen their knowledge: children have asked the specialists complex and meaningful questions, discussed the environmental aspects and history of the construction of the ZNPP and Energodar, as well as the plant staff achievements, which are a source of pride of the Zaporizhzhia NPP employees.

Looking at the model of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, perhaps, many of them have remembered peaceful times – lectures conducted at the Information Center of the native enterprise in Energodar, visits to the plant, the full-scope simulator, the hydropower plant, and meetings with power engineers. Those once ordinary events have become a current symbol of unity and faith in returning home.

A specific emotional moment of the meeting is the use of VR glasses. The children have been able to immerse themselves in the virtual spaces of their nuclear power plant and see it as it should be: peaceful and free from occupiers. In addition, an interactive element has been available there: a quiz, communication and souvenirs as a good memory of the meeting.

Such events are not only educational aspect. These activities help maintain a connection with the hometown and the plant, give a sense of solidarity and confidence that, despite the challenges of today, Ukrainian nuclear employees will have a peaceful future – free, restored, and directed towards the benefit of Ukrainian society and state.