Russia claims nuclear inspectors’ visit to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant through Kyiv too dangerous
OLHA HLUSHCHENKO – TUESDAY, 16 AUGUST 2022, 06:50
Russia has claimed that the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) would not be safe because its inspectors would have to travel via Kyiv and then across the line of contact.
Source: Igor Vishnevetsky, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, quoted in Russian state-owned news agency TASS and Reuters
Quote: "Imagine what it means to pass through Kyiv – it means they get to the nuclear plant by crossing the front line."
"This is a huge risk, given that Ukraine's armed forces are not all made up in the same way. These people are prepared to carry out any number of provocations."
Background: The UN has denied Russia’s allegations that the UN Secretariat is blocking International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) access to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which remains under the control of Russian occupying forces.
A total of 42 countries have called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the Zaporizhzhia NPP, stressing that their presence there poses a threat to the safe operation of the nuclear plant.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week called for withdrawing any military personnel and equipment from the ZNPP and refraining from any further deployment of forces or equipment to the site. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has joined the calls to demilitarise the zone around the ZNPP.
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