‘Attacks on nuclear power facilities are contrary to international’ law, UN official says after Russia seizes plant
WASHINGTON
The UN issued a stark warning on Friday after Russian forces attacked Europe’s largest nuclear facility, and seized it from Ukrainian authorities.
The attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant resulted in a fire erupting at a training complex at the site, which was extinguished by a Ukrainian firefighters. UN officials reported that no radiation was released, and that essential equipment was not affected.
“Attacks on nuclear power facilities are contrary to international humanitarian law,” Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN’s Deputy Under-Secretary for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, told the Security Council during an emergency session called by the UK to address the early morning attack.
DiCarlo said it is “vital” that Russia and Ukraine develop “an appropriate framework” to work with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to “ensure the safe, secure and reliable operation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.”
“Urgent and safe passage should be granted to IAEA personnel should they need to travel to Ukraine to work with regulators,” she said.
Located in southeastern Ukraine near the city of Enerhodar, the Zaporizhzhia plant generates 20% of Ukraine’s electricity. A total of six reactors, each with a net capacity of 950 megawatts, can supply energy to nearly 4 million households with a total electricity production of 5,700 megawatts.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US’s UN envoy sharply, denounced Russia’s attack, saying it risked a catastrophe that would have been felt far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
“By the grace of God the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night. We all waited to exhale as we watched the horrific situation unfold in real-time,” she said. “It was incredibly reckless and dangerous and it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe. As a first step, we call on Russia to withdraw its troops from the plant.”
Russia, however, denied attacking the facility, and dismissed Friday’s emergency convening of the Security Council as an effort “to kindle artificial hysteria about what is taking place in Ukraine.”
Vassily Nebenziya, Moscow’s UN ambassador, claimed Russian troops came under from “saboteurs” operating at the nuclear site’s training facility, and returned fire, which “suppressed their fire.” He said it was Ukrainians who “set fire to the training facility” as they were leaving.
Russia’s war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
More than 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.
