UN chief warns against ‘suicidal’ attacks on nuclear plant — Analysis
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced concerns over a potential nuclear disaster at Europe’s largest nuclear power station, after Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of shelling the nuclear plant in the country’s southern Zaporozhye Region on Friday, while Kiev claims that Russia is using the facility as a “shield”For its soldiers.
“Any attack to a nuclear plant is a suicidal thing. I hope that those attacks will end, and at the same time I hope that the IAEA will be able to access the plant,” Guterres spoke at a Tokyo press conference on Monday morning without taking blame for either party.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Saturday’s statement was made. “extremely concerned”Friday’s bombardment of Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant. Any weapon or material that could be used to target the facility. “military firepower”This would equal to “playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences,” the UN nuclear watchdog’s director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said.
IAEA suggested that a delegation be sent to the site. “provide technical support for nuclear safety and security”To and from “help prevent the situation from spiraling even more out of control.”Moscow and Kiev have not yet reacted positively to the IAEA’s proposal.
The Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant in the country’s south was seized by Russian forces in late February, when Moscow launched its military campaign in Ukraine. It continues to be operated by Ukrainian staff, which is under Russian command.
On Friday, Moscow accused Ukrainian troops of firing artillery shells at the plant in the country’s southern Zaporozhye Region, following allegations of several attempted drone attacks over the past month. Russian Foreign Ministry senior official in non-proliferation, arms control and nuclear safety warned of the danger that attacks on the plant will trigger an event like the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.
Russian Defense Ministry “parts of the equipment”The shelling caused power cuts at the plant, and the fire that erupted at the site was quickly extinguished. Ministry claimed that “by sheer luck,”The fire from the Ukrainian shells was not larger than it had been before. “a possible nuclear disaster.”
However, the Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky claimed that Russian troops shelled the plant. At the same moment, US Secretary Antony Blinken as well as other Kiev officials repeatedly claimed that Russia used the plant for its own purposes. “shield”Its soldiers “knowing that [the Ukrainians] can’t and won’t shoot back.”Zelensky falsely accused Moscow on Sunday “nuclear terrorism” and urged Western governments to sanction Russia’s nuclear industry.
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