NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of the danger of a nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian troops. At the same time, he asked Russia to agree to the inspection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The capture of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant by Russian troops seriously threatens the safety of its operation and increases the risk of a nuclear accident or incident, which in turn poses a threat to the population of Ukraine, neighboring states and the world community, Stoltenberg said, speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, August 17th. “It is urgent to secure an inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency and ensure the withdrawal of all Russian troops,” said the NATO Secretary General.

The situation around the ZNPP

Russian troops took over the Zaporozhye nuclear plant in early March, after which Ukrainian personnel continued to work at the plant. Since the end of July, the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, has been subjected to regular bombing, and there have also been reports in the media about it being mined by Russian troops. The IAEA also warned of the risk of a nuclear holocaust. A few days ago, the head of the international agency, Rafael Grossi, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, demanded immediate access to the plant for its experts.

The head of Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom, Petr Kotin, told DW that the Ukrainian side does not fully control the nuclear and radiological safety of the ZNPP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry over the situation with the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. “This is a purely security issue. Those who create nuclear threats to other nations are definitely incapable of using nuclear technologies safely,” Zelensky emphasized.