Russia has requested “clarification” on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the situation at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.
“Further clarification is needed because the report contains a number of question marks […] We ask the IAEA Director General for these clarifications,” Lavrov told the Russian Interfax news agency.
On Tuesday, the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, denounced, by videoconference, that the physical integrity of the nuclear power plant “continues to be violated”, describing the fact that the site was a target as “unacceptable”.
“We are playing with fire,” warned Grossi, who indicated that he will contact all parties “very soon” to discuss “concrete steps” toward creating the safe zone recommended in the report.
In a 52-page report, the UN body called for the establishment of a “safe zone” around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine to prevent a serious accident.
The UN nuclear watchdog also noted “extremely stressful” working conditions for Ukrainian employees at the plant, which has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid since Monday afternoon.
The spokeswoman for Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, today accused the “West” of putting pressure on the IAEA, according to the state news agency Ria-Novosti.
Also on Tuesday, Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia lamented that the IAEA report does not hold Ukraine responsible for the bombing of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
Ukraine and Russia are accusing each other of attacks on the plant, which has raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
After diplomatic efforts, an IAEA delegation gained access to the facilities last week and had the opportunity to verify the situation on the ground.
Since Monday, two inspectors have been permanently stationed at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, after six other specialists who carried out inspections in recent days left the site.
The director of the Russian nuclear conglomerate Rosatom, Alexei Likhatchev, said today that Moscow “will do everything possible to ensure the safe operation of the plant, in exclusive contact with the IAEA.”
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused the flight of more than 13 million people -more than six million internally displaced persons and more than seven million to neighboring countries-, according to the latest UN data. , which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the generality of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing them on Russia. political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented as confirmed since the beginning of the war, which today entered its 195th day, 5,718 civilian deaths and 8,199 wounded, stressing that these figures are well below the real ones.
Source: TSF
