Russia threatens to shut down Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which has been the subject of much fighting with the Ukrainian army in recent weeks. The reactor has been in Russian hands since March.
Both warring parties accuse each other of shelling the complex.
Russia said Thursday that Ukraine is preparing a “provocation” at the nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian army would like to cause a “minor accident” and then blame Russia for it. Russia would have to shut down the plant to prevent a nuclear disaster. The nuclear power plant is of great importance for the region’s energy supply.
The Ukrainian action is to take place on Friday, according to Russia, during the visit of UN chief Antonio Guterres to the country. He will speak on Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the war in Ukraine, grain exports, and the situation in Zaporizhzhya. Guterres fears a nuclear catastrophe and has called for a demilitarized zone around the nuclear reactor.
According to Zelensky, the Russian army has stationed many heavy weapons on the factory site, but Russia denies this.
The United Nations wants to arrange a visit from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the nuclear power plant. Russia refuses because any mission traveling through Ukraine would be too dangerous. Zelensky and NATO have called on Russia to admit the IAEA for an inspection.