War in Ukraine: IAEA calls on Russia to halt actions at Ukrainian nuclear facilities

Its Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency today approved a new decision calling on Russia to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhya power station in Ukraine and to stop its actions against the nuclear facilities of that country, according to diplomatic imgs.

The text, presented by Canada and Finland, was approved by 24 of the 35 states participating in the Council, two diplomats contacted by AFP said. Russia and China voted against. Seven countries were absent (Pakistan, India, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia). Two were absent.

It is the third IAEA decision on this matter since the start of the war in Ukraine calling on Russia to cease all actions at Ukrainian nuclear facilities. Similar decisions had already been adopted in March and September, when continued shelling in Ukraine sparked fears of a nuclear accident.

In this text, the IAEA Board of Governors “expresses its deep concern” against Russia’s refusal to stop its attacks on Ukrainian nuclear facilities.

Calls on Russia to abandon its baseless claims to the Zaporizhia station, withdraw its troops and personnel immediately and cease “any action” against Ukraine’s power plants.

The safety of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, is of particular concern. The nuclear plant has been occupied, since the beginning of March, by Russian forces and is located in one of the territories annexed by Russia.