Russia accused Kyiv on Monday of trying to “take Europe hostage” by bombing the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Russia’s foreign ministry has said it wants the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the plant in Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, but Kyiv is blocking a possible visit.
“They are taking the whole of Europe hostage and don’t mind setting it on fire for the sake of their Nazi idols,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Moscow says it did everything it could to facilitate an IAEA visit to the nuclear plant, but Kyiv believed it was “beneficial to keep the IAEA away.”
Zakharova, Sergei Lavrov’s spokeswoman, also criticized the international community for refusing to criticize Kyiv for the attacks.
“The leaders of the UN and the IAEA time and again do not dare to directly name the source of the threat. They demonstrate that they do not want to point a finger at Kyiv,” Zakharova said.
Zaporizhzhia NPP, hot spot
The Zaporizhzhia NPP became the latest outbreak of the months-long conflict.
The plant is located on Russian-controlled territory, but is serviced by Ukrainian personnel.
International concern over artillery shelling of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear complex grew on Monday, with Kyiv warning of the risk of a Chernobyl-style disaster and calling for the plant to be turned into a demilitarized zone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemned the actions of Russian troops on the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP in southeastern Ukraine on Friday and called on the international community “to take immediate measures to force the Russian Federation to leave the Zaporizhia NPP.” reports the Ukrinform press agency.
On Friday, a bomb hit a high-voltage power line at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, seized by Russia. Both sides blame each other for the attack, while Ukrainian authorities have said the plant is still operating and no radioactive leaks have been detected, Reuters reported.
The main concerns regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP
Russian forces are likely using their positions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Energodar to heighten Western fears of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine in an attempt to reduce Western willingness to provide military support to a Ukrainian counteroffensive, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says.
The situation at Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, is “completely out of control,” said the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, calling on Russia and Ukraine to allow experts into the territory to avoid a nuclear accident, writes the Associated Press.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Saturday expressed grave concern over the bombing of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying the action indicated the risk of a nuclear disaster.
—-
- Follow the latest events of the 166th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.
Source: Hot News RU
James Springer is a renowned author and opinion writer, known for his bold and thought-provoking articles on a wide range of topics. He currently works as a writer at 247 news reel, where he uses his unique voice and sharp wit to offer fresh perspectives on current events. His articles are widely read and shared and has earned him a reputation as a talented and insightful writer.