The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution on Thursday calling on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is a constant target of bombings, diplomatic sources said, quoted by AFP, Agerpres reported.

Ukrainian nuclear power plant in ZaporizhzhiaPhoto: Kostyantyn Mikhalchevsky / Sputnik / Profimedia

Russian troops occupied the nuclear complex on March 4, shortly after the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

The text submitted by Poland and Canada was approved by 26 of the Council’s 35 member states, with Russia and China voting against, said a diplomat contacted by AFP.

Seven countries abstained: South Africa, Burundi, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Senegal and Vietnam.

“The Board of Governors has sent a strong message to Russia asking it to immediately stop all actions that threaten nuclear safety and hand over the Zaporizhzhia power plant and any other Ukrainian territory to Kyiv,” Australian Ambassador Richard Sadleir commented on Twitter. .

The resolution also supports the efforts of the IAEA, which has started consultations with Ukraine and Russia on the creation of a safety zone around the perimeter of the nuclear power plant.

The council adopted the first resolution in early March, warning of “the risk of a nuclear accident that threatens the population of Ukraine, neighboring states and the international community.”

The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in southern Ukraine and Europe’s largest, has been bombed several times in recent weeks, with Moscow and Kyiv blaming each other for the attacks.

After a series of incidents and the shutdown of six reactors, the situation has improved significantly in recent days: Ukrainian engineers are restoring three emergency power lines that were damaged, according to the IAEA, which employs two experts.

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