Russia considers any resolutions and statements calling for the “return” of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukraine as an encroachment on its sovereignty. This was stated on March 13 in a statement on website Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
“We especially emphasize that we consider any resolutions, as well as statements by officials and international organizations calling for the “return” of the ZNPP to Ukraine or the establishment of international control over it, as an attempt to encroach on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia,” the Foreign Ministry clarified.
The department recalled that during a special operation in March 2022, the Russian armed forces took custody of the Zaporizhia NPP. As a result of the referendums, the Zaporozhye region became part of the Russian Federation as a new subject.
“On October 5, 2022, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 711 “On the peculiarities of legal regulation in the field of use of atomic energy in the Zaporozhye region” was signed, which consolidated the status of the Zaporozhye NPP as an object under Russian jurisdiction. The “Operating Organization of Zaporozhye NPP” has been created, which ensures the operation of the station,” the department recalled.
Immediately after the station returned to Russian jurisdiction, its safety and effective functioning began to be constantly threatened by Kyiv, which not only carries out provocations against the station and its satellite city Energodar, but also continues to terrorize the station’s staff and members of their families.
Russia will continue to strengthen the protection of the station and Energodar in order to prevent Kyiv and its curators represented by the “collective West” from violating it, the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded.
Earlier, on March 11, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, noted that the anti-Russian resolution of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calling on Russia regarding the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant is “legally void.” The resolution is a political decision, so it will not have consequences, just like the three previous resolutions on this topic, the diplomat noted.
On March 7, the IAEA Board of Governors supported the draft resolution on nuclear safety developed by Kiev, according to which Russia was required to leave the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP.
Earlier, on March 6, a meeting between IAEA head Rafael Grossi and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place at the Bocharov Ruchey residence in Sochi. The situation at Zaporizhia NPP was discussed there. The President of the Russian Federation noted that Russia is doing everything to improve the safety of nuclear facilities.
Later, on March 8, Grossi called the meeting with Russian President Putin professional and frank. He noted that the nuclear and physical security situation at the site remains precarious.
Zaporozhye NPP is the largest in Europe in terms of the number of units and installed capacity of nuclear power plants. The facility came under the control of the Russian Federation following the results of a referendum on the reunification of the Zaporozhye region with the Russian Federation.
The power plant has been monitored by IAEA employees since the beginning of September last year. The organization’s mission arrived at Zaporizhzhya NPP after shelling of the territory of the Ukrainian Armed Forces station.
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