August 15, 2022
3 mins read

Over 40 countries call on Russia to return nuclear plant

The demand was made on behalf of the EU as well as the US, the UK, Norway, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and many other countries…reports Asian Lite News

Artillery shells again struck the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, as dozens of countries demanded the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the area.

“The stationing of Russian military personnel and weapons at the nuclear facility is unacceptable,” a statement on behalf of 42 countries said.

“We urge the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces and all other unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, its immediate surroundings, and all of Ukraine so that the operator and the Ukrainian authorities can resume their sovereign responsibilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.”

The demand was made on behalf of the EU as well as the US, the UK, Norway, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and many other countries, dpa news agency reported.

“This will also enable the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to carry out its verification pursuant to Ukraine’s safeguards obligations under safe and secure conditions and in a timely manner,” the statement added.

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been occupied by Russian troops since March, has been subject to shelling for several weeks.

Each side blamed the other for the shelling on Sunday, and both sides reported that one civilian had been killed.

Russian authorities said “the nationalists of Ukraine” had hit the area, while the Ukrainian mayor of the city, Dmytro Orlov, spoke of a “murderous provocation” by the Russian side.

There was no independent confirmation of the incident.

Experts from the IAEA are due to inspect the site. However, the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine cannot agree on the planning for the visit.

Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov has called on the UN to intervene to ensure the safety of the plant.

It is the task of the UN Secretariat to “give the green light for a visit to the nuclear power plant by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Ulyanov told the Russian state news agency TASS in an interview published on Sunday.

According to reports, the UN has so far not allowed IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to travel, not only for security reasons, but also because of a dispute over the itinerary.

Grossi could travel under Russian protection via the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, but this would be perceived as an affront by Kiev.

Ukraine accuses Russian troops of using the nuclear power plant as a fortress from which to fire on the small towns of Nikopol and Marhanez, which lie on the other bank of the Dnipro reservoir.

Russia, on the other hand, claims that Ukraine is shelling the plant with drones, heavy artillery and rocket launchers.

The Kremlin said meanwhile it had hit targets in dozens of places in eastern Ukraine with missiles and artillery.

The attacks were concentrated in the Donetsk region, the Russian Defence Ministry said. In the neighbouring Kharkiv region the village of Udy was captured, Moscow said, and a fuel depot near Sloviansk was destroyed.

The Ukrainian general staff in Kiev reported intense attacks in the east and south of the country. In the Donetsk region, an attempt by Russian forces to break through to Sloviansk had been repelled, it said.

Overall, Kiev said the situation was largely unchanged.

ALSO READ: Taliban declares public holiday to mark anniversary of conquest

Previous Story

Sajda Festival UK culminates with tribute to Vilayat Khan, Satyajit Ray

Next Story

US, India dispensable partners: Biden

Latest from -Top News

India Powers Mauritius with E-Buses

It marked a major milestone, strengthening the green partnership under the development cooperation of both nations…reports Asian Lite News Indian High Commissioner Anurag Srivastava handed over the first batch of 10 electric

Finally, the vote is coming

Bangladesh sets February 2026 for historic general election, as Muhammad Yunus unveils sweeping reform agenda on uprising anniversary, pledging inclusive democracy and youth-driven political renewal. Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has

WFP’s $540m SOS for Afghanistan

Facing a deadly hunger crisis and climate shocks, Afghanistan pleads for urgent global aid as droughts, economic collapse and mass migration leave millions on the edge. Afghanistan is on the brink of

Never again: Hiroshima’s haunting plea at 80

Eighty years after the world’s first nuclear attack, Hiroshima honours its dead and urges global leaders to disarm before history repeats its most devastating lesson….reports Asian Lite News Thousands gathered at Hiroshima’s

India, New Zealand get tactical!

India and New Zealand launch their first Defence Strategic Dialogue in Delhi, opening a new chapter in military cooperation, maritime security, and Indo-Pacific coordination….reports Asian Lite News In a landmark step for
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Russia’s US envoy returns to Moscow

Russia recalled its top US envoy after President Joe Biden

MBS Hosts Zelensky in Jeddah

Zelensky arrived in the Saudi coastal city earlier on Monday,