Russia-Ukraine War: European Union Urges Russia To Pull Out Troops From Zaporizhzhia Power Plant To Avoid Nuclear Disaster

The United States, the European Union, and 42 other nations issued a joint statement urging Russia to promptly pull its troops from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a warning last week after noting that recent attacks had damaged several plant components, posing the threat of an "unacceptable" radiation leak, as per a report from CNN.

The joint statement, dated August 12, reads: "We urge the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces and all other unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant."

It was published Sunday on the website of the EU Delegation to the International Organizations in Vienna.

The statement further stated that the withdrawal must take place "so that the operator and the Ukrainian authorities can resume their sovereign responsibilities within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and the legitimate operating staff can conduct their duties without outside interference, threat, or unacceptably harsh working conditions."

The move would allow the IAEA "to carry out its verification according to Ukraine's safeguards obligations" within safe and secure conditions and in a timely way.

Risk of Nuclear Disaster Intensified by Russian-Ukraine War

The nations continued to say that the risk of nuclear catastrophes was unquestionably heightened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Russian army's position at the nuclear power facility.

Additionally, they denounce Russia's efforts to exploit misinformation to shield its unlawful actions in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged the establishment of a demilitarized zone and an immediate cease-fire around the nuclear power plant.

However, Moscow rejected calls by the UN to establish a demilitarized zone within the nuclear power facility vicinity.

On Thursday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi asked for an immediate assessment of the facility by international specialists, describing the situation at the plant as alarming and having reached a "grave hour."

The joint statement also blasted the deployment of Russian military personnel and equipment at the nuclear facility and called it a violation of the safety, security, and safeguards standards that all IAEA members have agreed to uphold, according to the joint statement, which also supported the agency's efforts, according to a report from Yahoo! News.

Situation Getting More Dangerous Every Day

The mayor of the city where the facility is situated claims that the danger of an accident at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine "increases every day."

City Mayor Dmytro Orlov described the situation to AFP news agency as "outright nuclear terrorism," which "can end unpredictably at any moment."

The largest plant in Europe was taken over by Russian troops early in the occupation, and it has been on the front lines ever since. The complex has been attacked numerous times this past week, with Kyiv and Moscow exchanging the culpability for the hazardous buildup, per Al Jazeera.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of using the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility as a kind of nuclear blackmail and has warned any Russian soldier who fires at it or uses it as cover will be designated a "special target."

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Europe, European Union, United Nations, Ukraine, Russia