Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told the United Nations Security Council at a meeting on the Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine that Ukraine's actions are pushing the world closer to a major nuclear disaster. The nuclear power plant has been under the control of Russian forces since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ambassador Nebenzia warned the Security Council on August 11 that if Ukrainian forces continue to attack the power plant, a disaster could happen at any time.
According to the Russian special mission to the United Nations, a disaster in Zaporizhzhia - the largest nuclear power plant in Europe - could lead to radioactive pollution over much of the territory, affecting at least eight areas of Ukraine, including the capital Kiev, major cities such as Kharkov or Odessa as well as some territories of Russia and Belarus bordering Ukraine.
The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations warned that the self-proclaimed Lugansk and Donetsk regions, as well as Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria, could also be affected.
And these are the most optimistic forecasts of experts, Ambassador Nebenzia noted. The Russian diplomat stressed that the potential scale of such a major nuclear disaster is difficult to imagine.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in the Ukrainian city ofgod Enerar under Russian control, has been hit by a series of attacks in recent weeks. Moscow accused Kiev of attacking the plant with artillery and drones.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the Security Council that the situation at the plant is under control and that there is "no immediate danger" to the plant's safety. He called on both Russia and Ukraine to give the IAEA access to the facility "as soon as possible".
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the suspension of any military activity around the plant as the Security Council is meeting. Previously, Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ivan Nechaev said that Russia supports IAEA's inspection of the Zaporizhzhia plant.
China also called on all relevant parties to negotiate and find a solution to the issue.
US Deputy Secretary of State for International Security and arms control, Bonnie Jenkins asked Russia to withdraw troops. At the same time, she also supported General Secretary Guterres' call for a non-military zone with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
As the UN Security Council was meeting on Russia's proposal to discuss Ukrainian artillery attacks on the plant, the US State Department issued a statement supporting the establishment of a non-military zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area.
On August 10, the US and its G7 allies demanded that Russia immediately hand over full control of the Zaporizhzhia plant to Ukraine and allow IAEA staff to access the facility, without mentioning the demilitarized zone.
Meanwhile, the nuclear associations of the United States, Canada and Europe have issued a letter calling on IAEA to approach the Zaporizhzhia plant and ask Russia to withdraw troops, and have mentioned the establishment of a safe zone of about 30km around the plant.
Zaporizhzhia is the largest plant in Europe and stores dozens of tonnes of uranium and plutonium enriched in the reactors, while the plant is also chua used fuel, according to IAEA.
