The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the latest dangerous escalation by the Russian Federation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and considers its shelling to be part of a deliberate strategy to block repair work.
This is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrinform reports.
The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the numerous shelling incidents in the immediate vicinity of the facility, recorded by the IAEA on October 6, are a deliberate provocation by Russia, which once again demonstrates its complete disregard for international law, the IAEA Statute, and the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety.
“The deliberate creation of risks around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe threatens a nuclear disaster on a continental scale,” the ministry warns.
Kyiv is particularly concerned by the fact that the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been without external power supply for almost two weeks, relying on unstable backup power sources.
“We consider the shelling to be part of Russia’s deliberate strategy to block repair work and the restoration of power lines necessary to ensure a reliable external power supply,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry notes that it will continue to work closely with the IAEA and partners to minimize risks, ensure operational repair readiness, and restore proper nuclear and radiation safety parameters at the ZNPP as soon as possible.
Ukraine also calls on its partners to take additional collective political and sanctions measures to stop Russian nuclear blackmail and avert a disaster that would have cross-border consequences for the whole of Europe.
“Ukraine insists: nuclear safety cannot be a bargaining chip. Restoring external power supply to the ZNPP, complete demilitarization of the site, and returning the plant to Ukraine’s control are necessary and urgent steps to protect the lives and health of millions of people,” the ministry added.
As reported by Ukrinform, on September 23, the last external power line to the ZNPP was disconnected. The backup line was cut by the Russians in May, and since then the occupiers have not provided security guarantees for the repair crews of NPC Ukrenergo to restore it.
Energoatom stated that the external power line of the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the territory controlled by Ukraine is operational. The Russians deliberately do not connect the station to the power supply, continuing a crude disinformation campaign against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russia deliberately disconnected the Zaporizhzhia NPP from Ukraine’s power grid and is preparing to reconnect it to its own power system.
On Monday, October 6, IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP heard several rounds of shelling near the power plant.
Photo: Konstantin Liberov