US calls on russia to immediately withdraw troops from Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

The United States, at the meeting of the UN Security Council, indicated that for the safety of the nuclear power plant, russian troops to withdraw from there, create a demilitarized zone there and ensure the access of IAEA experts.

This was stated by US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

"The solution for what is happening at the Zaporizhzhia facility is straightforward. The United States calls for the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine's territory. This would allow for Ukraine to restore the impeccable safety, security, and safeguards performance it upheld for decades at the facility.

Russia continues to deploy disinformation to distract from the realities on the ground and now claims that Ukraine is culpable for the situation at the Zaporizhzhia facility," Under Secretary Jenkins stated.

"Russia alone created risks there when it launched a full-scale invasion, and it can eliminate those risks now by withdrawing from Ukrain," she added.

"To start, the United States reiterates the importance of facilitating access for IAEA personnel to address nuclear safety, security, and safeguards concerns at the Zaporizhzhya facility, as well as at other nuclear facilities across the country, in a manner that respects Ukrainian sovereignty. This visit cannot wait any longer," she said.

"The United States also supports Ukraine's proposal to create a demilitarized zone around the Zaporizhzhia plant. Reports, such as that by the IAEA we heard today, underscore the urgency of the situation," she added.

In addition, Jenkins says the accusations by the Kremlin of the Ukrainian side in the attacks on the nuclear power plant are aimed at forcing others to ignore the fact that russian forces are illegally present at the facility.

The US representative also noted that if russia continues its occupation policy, the international community should take urgent steps to minimize nuclear security risks in Ukraine.

In addition, russia must cease all military operations at or near Ukraine's nuclear facilities and return "full control of the Zaporizhzhia facility to Ukraine." At the same time, according to her, Ukrainian NPP personnel should be allowed to perform their duties without pressure from the russian armed forces. She emphasized that the United States continues to closely monitor the development of events at the Zaporizhzhia NPP and is concerned about the growing risks of nuclear danger in connection with the actions of the russian federation.

The risk of a nuclear incident "would endanger the people of Ukraine, neighboring states, and the international community," said a representative of the US State Department.

Reference

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the world to respond immediately to the russian shelling of the ZNPP and emphasized the need for the complete withdrawal of the russian occupiers from the plant.

On August 5, Energoatom reported that the russian occupiers shelled the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP twice a day. First, three flights near the industrial site were recorded; the enemy hit a high-voltage communication line.

Later, the russians hit the ZNPP with an anti-aircraft missile, hitting a projectile near one of the power units where the nuclear reactor is located.

On the evening of August 6, the russian occupiers fired rockets at Enerhodar and hit the ZNPP site directly next to the station's dry storage of spent nuclear fuel.

On August 11, russian troops shelled the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the territory near the nuclear facility four times.

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