White House calls on Russia to cease military operations around nuclear facilities in Ukraine
European Pravda reports that White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that the US is calling on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
"Confrontations near a nuclear power plant are dangerous. And we continue to call on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukrainian nuclear facilities and return full control to Ukraine," Jean-Pierre said.
She added that the United States is continuing to "closely monitor" the situation at the facility and radiation sensors have "thankfully" not shown any indications of an increase or abnormal radiation levels.
"We are also aware of the reports of mistreatment of the (plant) staff and we applaud the Ukrainian authorities and operators for their commitment to nuclear safety and security under trying circumstances," she said.
Energoatom reported two Russian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on Friday, 5 August. During the first attack, three strikes were recorded near the industrial site and a high-voltage power line was hit. Later on, Russian forces struck the ZNPP using MLRS (multiple-launch rocket systems), hitting an area near a power block containing a nuclear reactor.
On 6 August, Energoatom said that the Russian attack has seriously damaged the nitrogen-oxygen unit and that there are risks of hydrogen leakage and emission of radioactive substances.
Moldova is concerned about potential damage to the ZNPP as a result of the attacks and is calling for IAEA experts to be given access. Meanwhile, Estonia has said that Russia must urgently hand the control of all Ukrainian nuclear energy facilities back to Ukraine. The EU has denounced Russia’s military activity in the area around the ZNPP.
During a phone call, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine called on Charles Michel, President of the European Council, to introduce sanctions against the Russian nuclear energy sector and nuclear fuel.
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