A total of 42 countries and the European Union have signed this weekend a declaration in which they demand the “immediate withdrawal” of the Russian troops occupying the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, in Ukraine.
“The deployment of Russian military personnel and weapons in a nuclear facility is unacceptable and it supposes a contempt for the principles of security and safeguard of all the members of the IAEA”, indicates the declaration, signed among other countries by Spain, in reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
These countries call for the “immediate withdrawal” of the Russian military forces “and any other unauthorized personnel” from the central Zaporizhia so that the Ukrainian authorities can resume their sovereign responsibilities.
This will also enable the IAEA to carry out its verification functions in accordance with Ukraine’s obligations regarding the safe maintenance of the nuclear power plant.
The declaration in favor of Ukraine is signed by the member countries of the European Union and also by United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Japan or New Zealand.
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian control since last March, although it is Ukrainian personnel who continue to maintain the facilities.
An IAEA inspection is pending, but the UN, Russia and Ukraine have failed to agree on an agenda for the visit.
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other
Ukraine and Russia accused each other this Saturday of having attacked the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, occupied by Moscow troops and object of repeated combats for a week. This has caused enormous concern among the international community.
“Reduce your presence on the streets of Energodar! We have received news of new provocations by the Russian occupiers, the Ukrainian nuclear agency, Energoatom, explained on Telegram, which published a message from a local leader in the city of Energodar, near which Zaporizhia is located.
Ukraine accuses Russia of using the nuclear power plant as a bastion to fire on the towns of Nikopol and Marhanez, on the other side of the Dnipro River. Meanwhile, Russia denounces Ukrainian bombardments against the plant using drones, heavy artillery and rocket launchers.
China pronounces on Zaporizhia
The Chinese representative to the UN, Zhang Jun, stated before the Security Council that an accident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant could be more serious than the nuclear accident that took place in Fukushima in 2011.
“The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe. If a large-scale nuclear accident occurs, it can be more serious than the Fukushima accident,” Jun assured, while saying that China he does not want “the same risk” to be repeated.
(With information from Europa Press and EFE)