Russia threatens to stop Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA — THURSDAY, 18 AUGUST 2022, 12:08
The Russian military command threatens to stop the operation of Europe's largest Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Source: Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti, which quotes Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Russian Armed Forces
Quote from Kirillov: "We would like to draw your attention to the fact that if the negative development of the situation related to the shelling of the nuclear power plant by Ukraine continues, the issue of switching units 5 and 6 to the cold reserve may be considered, which will lead to the shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia NPP."
Details: Russia occupied the ZNPP in the early stage of the war and kept military equipment and ammunition on its territory. It also has been repeatedly launching attacks from the territory of the ZNPP.
Background:
- Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry said that a "large-scale provocation of the Kyiv regime" may occur at the ZNPP on August 19 during the visit of Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, to Ukraine.
- On 17 August, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Lviv where he will meet with the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, Guterres will discuss the situation at the ZNPP, as well as the search for a political solution to end the war with Russia.
- Earlier, the UN said that it could help the IAEA visit Zaporizhzhia from Kyiv, but Russia insists that any mission that will pass through Ukraine is too dangerous. On 18 August, it became known that the Director General of the IAEA will personally lead the mission to ZNPP.
At a meeting of the UN Security Council, the United States noted that for the sake of security of the nuclear power plant, Russian troops should be withdrawn from there. Russian representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzia rejected the offer to create a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
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