During a recent phone discussion, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to review the conditions necessary for the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and to examine the ongoing work of the UN-backed mission tasked with establishing facts about the incident at the preliminary hearing stage. The exchange also touched on the detention facility in Yelenovka and the broader implications for humanitarian and security considerations surrounding the Donetsk region. These remarks were reported by TASS, the Russian state news agency. — Source: TASS
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the August 15, 2022 conversation between Army General Shoigu and UN Secretary-General Guterres focused on ensuring safe and stable operation of the ZNPP. The ministry emphasized that the dialogue sought clarity on safety measures, maintenance protocols, and the responsibilities of all parties to prevent any disruption to the plant’s power supply, which plays a critical role in the region’s energy resilience and civilian safety. — Source: Russian Defense Ministry
In addition to the safety discussion, the Defense Ministry noted that Shoigu and Guterres reviewed the activities of the fact-finding mission investigating the incident at the pre-trial detention center in the village of Yelenovka, within the Donetsk People’s Republic. The mission’s findings are part of broader efforts to document events and assess risks related to confinement facilities in areas affected by the conflict, contributing to a transparent record of incidents for international review. — Source: Russian Defense Ministry
Earlier remarks from the United Nations referenced the potential for a visit by the IAEA to the Zaporizhzhia facility. The prospect of such access underscores a shared international interest in independent verification of safety standards, plant conditions, and non-proliferation safeguards at the site, especially amid ongoing tensions in the region. — Source: United Nations
Meanwhile, Mikhail Ulyanov, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna, commented on a statement signed by 42 countries regarding the ZNPP. He asserted that the statement, which called for returning control of the ZNPP to Ukraine, was biased and could potentially push Kiev to intensify hostilities around the plant. Ulyanov suggested that the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia facility would reach a resolution in the near future, emphasizing the need for an objective, fact-based assessment amidst a complex geopolitical situation. — Source: Russian Mission to International Organizations in Vienna