Recent weeks have seen an escalation in shelling on and around Europe’s largest nuclear facility.
The Council meeting was requested by Russia, whose forces occupied the plant since March, or shortly after the start of the war, while Ukrainian personnel continued to carry out their on-site operations. .
Threat of ‘suicide’
Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the UN’s ongoing grave concern over the dangerous situation, reiterating the Secretary-General’s call for reason, reason and restraint, as well as dialogue.
“At this point, we are required to receive expressed the parties’ commitment to cease any military activity around the plant and to allow it to continue to function safely and securely. To paraphrase the Secretary-General’s blunt warning, any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is an act of suicide,” she said. speak.
All personnel and equipment must be withdrawn from the plant, and no additional forces or equipment may be deployed to the site.
“The facility is not to be used as part of any military operation and an agreement on a safe demilitarized perimeter should be reached to ensure the safety of the area,” she said.
The United Nations again calls on all parties to provide the International Atomic EnergyIAEA) with instant, secure and uncensored access to the nuclear plant.
Preparing for the IAEA mission
IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi on Tuesday extended a request to send a mission to carry out essential safety, security and protection operations at the site.
Ms. DiCarlo reported that preparations are underway and that the agency is actively consulting with all parties so that the delegation can be dispatched as soon as possible.
“We welcome Ukraine and recent Russian statements show that support the IAEA’s goal of sending a mission to the plantthis will be the first IAEA visit to that site since the start of the war,” she said.
The UN has also assessed that it has the logistical and security capacity in Ukraine to support any IAEA mission from Kyiv, provided Ukraine and Russia agree.
“We must be clear that any potential damage to the crop, or any other nuclear facility in Ukraine, resulting in a possible nuclear accident there will be dire consequencesnot just for the neighborhood, but for the region and beyond,” said Ms. DiCarlo.
“Similarly, any damage that results in the plant being cut off from the Ukrainian power grid will have catastrophic humanitarian effects, especially as winter approaches. As the Secretary-General has made clear, the electricity produced at the Zaporizhzhia plant belongs to Ukraine”.
Russia: The ‘fresh’ atmosphere at the factory
During his deliberations, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya listed incidents of alleged Ukrainian shelling of the plant this month, accusing the country of “nuclear blackmail”.
“The Kyiv regime’s continued attacks on this station is a direct consequence of the criminal’s forgiveness of Western patrons,” he said, through an interpreter.
Moreover, to date, all potential disasters at the nuclear plant have been avoided “only through the smooth coordination of the station workers, the fire brigade, emergency personnel and the Russian military.” are helping them in any way possible,” he added. “And this shows that there is a healthy working atmosphere at the station, and no one is oppressing anyone there.”
Support for the IAEA’s mission
Regarding the IAEA, Mr. Nebenzya said Russia has been supporting efforts towards a mission to the plant “from day one” and has agreed for a mission to take place in June.
“We expect that the IAEA mission will take place in the near future and its experts will confirm the actual situation at the station,” he said.
The ambassador concluded his remarks by addressing the car bombing in Moscow on Saturday that killed Darya Dugina, a political commentator and daughter of a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.
Russian authorities are investigating the incident, he said, “and the preliminary conclusion is that this monstrous crime was organized by Ukrainian special services.”
He called on the Council and the UN leadership to, in his own words, “condemn yet another crime committed by the Kyiv regime.”
Ukraine denies shelling claims
Ukraine’s ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsy denied Russia’s claim that his country was shelling its own nuclear facility.
“No one with any sense could at least imagine that Ukraine would target a nuclear power plant with a terrible risk of nuclear disaster and on its own territory,” he said.
Mr. Kyslytsy informed the Council that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine had responded to the IAEA about the mission.
Proposals for itineraries comply with national law “and are generally acceptable,” he said. However, further arrangements are required based on security conditions, detailed route planning communications and other logistical aspects.
Permanent presence of the IAEA
“We continue to believe that the effectiveness of the mission can be enhanced by combining military and political components backed by UN expertise,” he said.
“Considering the scale of the current challenges and threats, we also call on the IAEA to consider the regular presence of experts at the ZNPP until the Ukrainian authorities regain full authority. control this nuclear facility.”
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of the business trip taking place at the request of Ukraine.
“The occupiers trained some hostages on what they should and shouldn’t say to the IAEA. That is why it is really important to conduct the mission in a way that allows the international community to see the real situation and not a Russian theatrical performance.”
