State Department described on Thursday evening as “unacceptable” any of her efforts Russia give her nuclear power her Ukrainianwhere earlier today its Russian-occupied nuclear power plant Zaporozhye disconnected from the national network.

“The electricity it produces de facto belongs to Ukraine, and any attempt to disconnect the station from the Ukrainian network in order to redirect (power) to the occupied territories is unacceptable,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

“No country should turn a nuclear power plant into a battlefield, and we oppose any attempt by Russia to appropriate the power of the plant or use it as a weapon,” he added.

The US has yet to observe unusual levels of radioactivity in Zaporozhye, Patel added, applauding the “courage and dedication” of the Ukrainians who still work at the nuclear plant.

Earlier today, US President Joe Biden reiterated that the Russians must leave the station and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter.

Bonnie Jenkins, undersecretary of state for arms control, said Moscow was responsible for the station’s security. “The (Russian) actions at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant create the risk of a serious nuclear accident that could affect not only Ukrainians and their environment, but also neighboring countries and the entire international community,” he stressed. He added that this risk “could be eliminated” if Russia transferred control of the station to Ukraine and withdrew from the country entirely.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}