Ukraine war: Russia rejects call to demilitarise Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant location

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Russia has rejected appeals for a whole demilitarisation of the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine.

The pass would make the plant extra vulnerable, a Russian legit said.

The calls come amid growing problem over safety at the website – Europe’s largest nuclear plant – as both facets accuse each other of shelling the area.

Ukrainian workers operate the plant, which has been below Russian control since March.

It was once one of the first websites seized by using Russian troops following the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.

UN Secretary General António Guterres sounded the alarm after assembly Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Lviv on Thursday.

“Any workable damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide,” Mr Guterres warned.

The Ukrainian president advised the UN to make certain demilitarisation of the nuclear plant – Europe’s biggest. Mr Guterres delivered that “the facility must no longer be used as section of any army operation”.

Mr Erdogan echoed the UN chief’s concerns, telling journalists that he used to be involved about the hazard of “another Chernobyl” catastrophe erupting at the plant.

Mr Zelensky has criticised “deliberate” Russian attacks on the electricity plant.

Moscow is accused of turning the facility into an army base, with all three leaders urging the Russians to demilitarise the area as soon as possible.

But Ivan Nechayev, deputy director of the Russian overseas ministry’s Information and Press Department, rejected the call.

“Their implementation will make the plant even extra vulnerable,” Mr Nechayev advised reporters.