UN calls for creation of a demilitarized zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

Yesterday, on August 11, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was held, convened at the initiative of Russia regarding the situation at the ZNPP.

The head of the IAEA warned in his speech that although at the moment there is no immediate danger due to the shelling of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, the situation can change at any moment. Rafael Grossi urged Russia and Ukraine to cooperate with the IAEA and allow competent experts to visit Europe’s largest nuclear power plant as soon as possible. The head of the organization said:

I remain very concerned about the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and reiterate that any hostilities that jeopardize nuclear safety must be stopped immediately. These military actions, dear colleagues, near such a large nuclear facility, can lead to very serious consequences.

During the meeting, Ukraine and Russia exchanged mutual accusations about the shelling, which poses a real danger to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, said:

What is happening these days at the ZNPP is the culmination of the criminal actions of the Kyiv regime against the nuclear infrastructure and personnel servicing these facilities, which for months remained without any international reaction.

In turn, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated:

Russia has once again “pierced the bottom” of the history of world terrorism. No one else so clearly used a nuclear power plant to threaten the whole world, putting forward some conditions. The whole world must immediately react and expel the invaders from the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

On the eve of the meeting, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said that any possible damage to the Zaporozhye or other nuclear power plant in Ukraine could lead to catastrophic consequences. He suggested creating a demilitarized zone around the ZNPP, explaining that “the facility should not be used as part of any military operation.”

In turn, Amnesty International reacted to the situation with the ZNPP. The organization called on the UN Security Council to hold Russia accountable for the militarization of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. In a statement by AI Secretary General Agnès Callamard, published on the organization’s websitesays:

The immediate danger posed by the militarization of the Zaporozhye NPP is a key issue for the Security Council. This militarization appears to be part of a broader strategy by Russian forces to threaten civilians and put millions of people at serious risk. We must not allow the Russian authorities to escape responsibility. The statements that we receive directly from Energodar, a city adjacent to the nuclear plant, speak eloquently of the terrible impact that the militarization of the plant and surrounding territories has on the civilian population.

She added that Amnesty International is now investigating these “alarming reports” and urged the Security Council to do the same.”

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