Ukraine demands Russia's full isolation in nuclear energy sector – MFA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said this in response to a Russian drone strike on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP), Ukrinform reports.
The ministry emphasized that in the early hours of Friday, February 14, Russia launched a drone strike on the sarcophagus covering the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl NPP, causing a fire at the site.
"This is yet another escalation of nuclear terrorism by Russia, which has repeatedly committed such crimes during its invasion of Ukraine. [...] ChNPP is a civilian nuclear facility that was decommissioned after the most catastrophic man-made disaster in human history. Any attack on it or the Chornobyl exclusion zone is an attack not only on Ukraine but also on global nuclear safety," the ministry said.
It recalled that simultaneously, Russia continues to hold the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant -- the largest nuclear station in Europe -- hostage, along with thousands of tonnes of nuclear material and many Ukrainian workers.
"It is unacceptable that against the backdrop of these crimes, representatives of Russia's nuclear sector, who advise the Russian army on strikes against Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure, continue to participate in international forums, promote Russian nuclear technologies, and remain in leadership positions within international nuclear organizations. Ukraine insists on the complete isolation of Russia in the nuclear energy sector and the removal of its representatives from leadership positions in international organizations," the statement said.
The ministry also added that Ukraine would raise the issue of Russia's threats to global nuclear security, manipulation, and pressure on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the next meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.
In the early hours of February 14, a Russian strike drone with an explosive warhead hit the shelter covering the destroyed Reactor No. 4 of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The strike and subsequent fire caused damage to the integrity of the New Safe Confinement shell and equipment in the crane maintenance garage.
