Kuleba: Russia must immediately withdraw troops from Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia NPPs

10.03.2022 16:20

Ukrinform

At a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba insisted on Russia's immediate withdrawal of troops from the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants to avert a nuclear disaster in Europe.

“Met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Antalya to discuss ways of ensuring safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. I insist: Russia must immediately withdraw forces from Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia NPPs to avert a disaster in Europe,” Kuleba posted on Twitter.

As reported, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi arrived in Antalya, Turkey, where the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia met to discuss the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities.

Chornobyl NPP was captured by Russian troops on February 24. Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under the control of the Russian army since March 4.

As a result of the actions of the Russian occupiers, Chornobyl NPP is completely de-energized. The fighting continues, so it is still impossible to carry out repair work and restore power supply.

National Power Company Ukrenergo is waiting for a safe corridor to restore power supply at the Chornobyl NPP.

IAEA lost track of data from the safeguards systems in place to monitor nuclear material at the occupied Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants.

A trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Turkey, and Russia took place in Antalya on March 10.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba told a press conference following a meeting with Turkish and Russian foreign ministers that Ukraine would reject any attempt to impose a model of recognizing some form of Russian interim rule over Ukrainian nuclear facilities.