The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for new sanctions against Russia in reply to the shelling of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant on Sunday.
President Zelenskyy took it to Twitter, “Russian nuclear terror requires a stronger response from the international community-sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry and nuclear fuel.”
Zelenskyy mentioned that he had talked about matters with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. On Friday, Ukrainian authorities had put blames on Russian forces of carrying out three attacks near a reactor at the Zaporizhzhya power plant in the south, although Moscow has controlled that area since the invasion began.
Whereas, Moscow claimed that the Ukrainian armed forces were behind the attacks.
UN watchdog for nuclear safety has urged all military operations near Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to cease after it was hit by shelling, which made one of the reactors to shut down and establishing a “very real risk of a nuclear disaster”.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he was “extremely concerned” by reports of damages at the plant and called for nuclear experts from IAEA to be allowed to examine the site, according to the reports.
He added, “I’m extremely concerned by the shelling yesterday at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which highlights the real risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health & the environment in Ukraine and beyond.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian nuclear power operator Energoatom said that the attack damaged a power cable on the site, which has resulted in one of the reactors stopping working, increasing “risks of leaking hydrogen as well as radioactive substances, and the risk of fire is also high.”
The shelling on the site “has caused a serious risk for the safe operation of the plant,” said Grossi.
The EU’s foreign affairs chief condemned the attack on Twitter, saying “this is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia’s disregard for international norms.”