Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed a report by the UN nuclear watchdog that mentioned Russian military hardware presence at the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe’s biggest nuclear facility, which is occupied by Moscow’s troops.
“The report notes the presence of Russian military hardware on the territory of the nuclear power plant, pressure on our employees there, and makes clear references to the Russian military occupation. It’s good,” Zelensky said in his daily address.
Zelensky referred to the report’s proposal for a security zone at the plant, saying if it was aimed at demilitarising “the territory of the nuclear power plant … then we can support” it.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the report released earlier Tuesday called for a demilitarised zone to be set up outside the plant, whose environs have repeatedly come under attack.
Both sides have blamed each other for shelling, which took place again Tuesday despite the watchdog’s recommendations.
Last week, a 14-strong team from the IAEA visited Zaporizhzhia, with the UN nuclear watchdog’s chief Rafael Grossi saying the site had been damaged in fighting.
At least two members of the team were to remain there on a permanent basis to ensure the facility’s safety.
Russian troops seized control of the site in early March.
