Mining and other forms of militarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Russia pose an immediate threat of a nuclear incident at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The world must take urgent measures to prevent a nuclear disaster and recognize Russia as a terrorist state.
That’s according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding the endangering situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP, Ukrinform reports.
“According to Ukrainian intelligence agencies, Russia is considering a scenario of committing a terrorist act at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia NPP. Such a terrorist attack will entail global consequences,” the Foreign Ministry emphasized.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that by occupying ZNPP, Russia grossly violates international law and nuclear safety norms and standards, in particular the seven fundamental principles of the IAEA on nuclear safety and security.
“We expect an objective assessment by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi regarding Russia’s criminal actions,” the ministry said.
The diplomats emphasized that the level of challenges and threats facing the global nuclear safety regime as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine is extremely high and requires consolidation and strengthening of international efforts to prevent a nuclear disaster.
The Foreign Ministry stated that Russia, as a terrorist state, has violated all key principles of international nuclear safety law and the vast majority of its own treaty obligations, but has not yet suffered just consequences for its crimes.
“We call on the international community, in particular the Group of Seven and the EU, to take urgent measures to prevent a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, including but not limited to introducing strengthened restrictive measures against the Russian nuclear industry and military-industrial complex. We insist on the need to recognize Russia as a terrorist state and ensure the inevitability of political, economic and legal consequences for all crimes and illegal actions committed by it,” the Foreign Ministry emphasized.
As reported, on June 20, the head of the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Russians had mined a cooler at Zaporizhzhia NPP and that if it was disabled, there was a significant likelihood that “there would be big problems.”
On June 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address that Russia is considering a scenario of a terrorist attack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and has prepared everything for it.
Photo: Energoatom
Source: Ukraine calls on world to take urgent measures to prevent disaster at Zaporizhzhia NPP
