ALBAWABA - A resolution for Russia to immediately restore control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine and remove its armed forces from the area was adopted by the UN General Assembly.
The resolution raises severe nuclear safety and security issues for the site. It was supported by 99, opposed by 9, and abstained by 60, including China, India, and South Africa. It emphasizes that the International Atomic Energy Agency may implement safety measures once Ukrainian administration is restored.
The UN supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and encourages Russia to halt its aggression and withdraw its troops. Near Russian-controlled battle zones in southeast Ukraine, the six-reactor Zaporizhzhia complex is constantly at risk.
The resolution's presenter, Ukrainian UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, said that Russia was targeting the facility and breaking nuclear safety regulations. He emphasized the long-term effects of the Chernobyl catastrophe and issued a stern warning should Zaporizhzhia face a similar destiny.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia's deputy UN ambassador, responded by accusing resolution backers of spreading a false narrative about the dangers facing Ukraine's nuclear plants. He maintained that any risks originate from Zaporizhzhia and its environs being attacked by the Ukrainians.
