Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia rejected today the proposal of the Secretary General United Nations Antonio Guterres to demilitarize the area around the Russian-held Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, arguing that it would make the plant “more vulnerable.”
The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, was seized by Russian forces in March, days after Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine to take part in a so-called “special military operation.”
Concerns about the plant’s safety and the risks of a potential Fukushima-like accident have intensified in recent weeks after Ukraine and Russia accused each other of shooting at nuclear sites.
Guterres, who is currently visiting Ukraine, earlier this month called for the withdrawal of military personnel and weapons from the nuclear plant to allow “secure demilitarization perimeter”.
Ivan Nechaev, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a briefing that the proposal was “unacceptable” to Moscow.
At the same time, he accused Kyiv of organizing what he called provocations and of failing to control nationalist militias.
Source: Kathimerini
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