NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that it is “urgent” that an “inspection” be carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, under Russian control and around which strikes and clashes are multiplying.
The plant, the largest in Europe, was seized in early March by Russian troops at the start of their invasion of Ukraine. Since Aug. 5, Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of shelling, with attacks once landing near a radioactive storage building and once causing the automatic shutdown of a reactor.
The plant subject to several strikes in recent days
The occupation of the site by Russian soldiers “constitutes a serious threat to its security and increases the risk of a nuclear accident or incident (…) It is urgent to authorize an inspection by the IAEA and obtain the withdrawal of all Russian forces,” Jens said. Stoltenberg at a press conference.
Russian control of Zaporizhia “endangers the people of Ukraine, neighboring countries, as well as the international community,” he insisted, after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Recent attacks on the plant, raising fears of a nuclear disaster, prompted a UN Security Council meeting last week and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for an on-site mission to be sent “as soon as possible.” possible” to inspect the plant. place.
Russia has accused the UN services of having impeded the IAEA mission. Ukraine, for its part, opposed it, considering that it would legitimize the Russian occupation of the site in the eyes of the international community.
Source: BFM TV
