Russia has requested “clarifications” on the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the situation at the Zaporijia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today.
“Further clarification is needed, because the report contains a certain number of question marks […] We asked the IAEA director general for these clarifications,” Lavrov told Russian news agency Interfax.
On Tuesday, the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, denounced, by videoconference, that the physical integrity of the nuclear power plant “continues to be violated”, describing as “unacceptable” the fact that the site was a target.
“We are playing with fire”, warned Grossi, indicating that he will contact all parties “very soon” to discuss “concrete steps” towards the creation of the safe zone recommended in the report.
In a 52-page report, the UN body demanded the establishment of a “safe zone” around Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporijia nuclear power plant to prevent a serious accident.
The UN nuclear watchdog also noted the “extremely ‘stressful'” working conditions in which Ukrainian employees find themselves at the plant, which has been disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid since Monday afternoon.
Russian diplomacy spokeswoman Maria Zakharova today accused “the West” of putting pressure on the IAEA, according to state news agency Ria-Novosti.
Also on Tuesday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia regretted that the IAEA report does not hold Ukraine responsible for the bombing of the Zaporijia nuclear power plant.
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of attacks on the plant, which have raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
After diplomatic efforts, an IAEA delegation last week had access to the premises and had the opportunity to see the situation on the ground.
Since Monday, two inspectors have been permanently stationed at Ukraine’s Zaporijia nuclear power plant, after six other specialists who carried out inspections in recent days had abandoned the site.
The director of Russian nuclear conglomerate Rosatom, Alexei Likhatchev, said today that Moscow will “do its best to ensure the safe operation of the plant, in exclusive contact with the IAEA”.
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused more than 13 million people to flee – more than six million internally displaced people and more than seven million to neighboring countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which ranks this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for the security of Russia – was condemned by the generality of the international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing it on Russia. of political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented as confirmed since the beginning of the war, which today entered its 195th day, 5,718 civilians dead and 8,199 wounded, stressing that these numbers are far below the real ones.
