The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that authorities in Kiev “take all of Europe hostage” by attacking the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant controlled by Russian troops. This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They didn’t choose only the peoples of Russia and Ukraine as their target. In fact, they are taking the whole of Europe hostage and, apparently, do not hesitate to “set” this place on fire for the sake of their Nazi idols, ”he said.
Russian diplomats also claim that “the Ukrainians are also aiming at themselves” by targeting artillery to operate nuclear reactors and store nuclear waste.
“We cannot ignore the obvious: the situation is getting more dangerous every day. We regularly send updated information “from the ground” to the IAEA, which is reflected in the agency’s information circular and clearly exposes the criminal acts of the Ukrainian armed forces, whose command eventually lost the ability to think rationally, he said. Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova.
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Moscow has long called on the international community in various forms and levels to strongly condemn the “Kyiv regime”‘s continued military attacks on the nuclear power plant, and that the situation is becoming more dangerous with each passing day. day.
What’s happening?
Since March, the Zaporozhye NPP has been under the control of the Russian army, while being led by specialists from the Ukrainian operator Energoatom.
On the night of August 7, Ukrainian troops launched a strike from the Uragan multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) on the territory of the nuclear power plant. Parts of the launched rocket landed 400 meters from the main power unit.
The head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mizintsev, announced the safety of the critical infrastructure of the Zaporizhzhya NPP thanks to the competent actions of the Russian army units.
Due to the shelling of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a high-voltage line was damaged and a power surge occurred, which caused smoke in the open switchgear. To avoid disruption of the station, the technical personnel had to reduce the power of the fifth and sixth power units to 500 megawatts.
In the event of a man-made disaster at a nuclear power plant, Nikopol, Zaporozhye, Krivoy Rog, as well as most of the western regions of Ukraine will be within the radius of radiation damage in the first place.
Who is to blame and what to do
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the shelling was carried out by the army of the 44th artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the Marganets settlement, located on the opposite bank. Kakhovka reservoir.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in turn, denied the bombing of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant by the Ukrainian armed forces, blaming the Russian side.
Igor Konashenkov, representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, said that “it has carried out a nuclear terrorist act” at the energy infrastructure facilities of Kiev.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said US authorities are calling on the Russian Federation to cease all military operations near Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and return control over it to Kiev.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi expressed his concerns about what happened at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and called for an end to the bombing. He also stated that he is ready to lead the mission of IAEA experts on safety, protection and security measures at nuclear power plants.
“The Zelensky regime should be recognized as a terrorist organization. The junta in Kiev was engaged in nuclear terrorism,” said Andrei Klihas, chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation of the Federation Council.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the attacks on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant must be stopped. “Attacks on nuclear power plants are an act of suicide,” he said. The Head of the World Organization stated that he hopes the IAEA will be able to access the power plant and use its powers there.
Mikhail Ulyanov, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation in international organizations in Vienna, also told RIA Novosti that the Russian Federation is ready to assist the Russian IAEA leadership in organizing a visit to the nuclear power plants.
The diplomat stressed Moscow’s interest in receiving information from the IAEA about what is happening around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, “taking into account the criminal activities of Kiev and the disinformation campaign launched by the Zelensky regime.”