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Russia issues stark warning over the nuclear power plant it’s occupying; Kyiv urges inspection of damaged facility
This is CNBC’s live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine. See below for the latest updates.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday night that Ukrainian diplomats and nuclear scientists are in “constant touch” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and working to get a team of inspectors into the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The plant has been occupied by Russian troops since the start of the war in Ukraine but there have been increasing fears that a nuclear catastrophe could take place as shelling has intensified around the plant, which Ukraine says has been used by Russia to store ammunition and military equipment. Russia has accused Ukraine of shelling the plant.
There are heightened fears that a catastrophe could occur at the plant, which is Europe’s largest of its kind. Yesterday, Ukraine’s Emergency Ministry conducted a nuclear catastrophe exercise in Zaporizhzhia in case of an accident.
In other news, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in Lviv in Ukraine on Thursday to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Zelenskyy.
The three are expected to discuss the ongoing Black Sea Initiative to export grains from Ukraine. Guterres will also meet with Zelenskyy to discuss the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
State Department condemns ‘Russia’s reckless disregard for nuclear safety’
The U.S. reiterated concerns regarding Russia’s military takeover and continued control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
“The International Atomic Energy Agency must be given access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as soon as possible and in a manner that respects Ukraine’s full sovereignty to help ensure the safety and security of the plant and monitoring of its nuclear material,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a daily press briefing.
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s reckless disregard for nuclear safety and security,” Price said, adding that Washington and its allies “call on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukraine’s nuclear facilities.”
Price also urged Russia to allow IAEA inspectors access to the nuclear power plant facility.
Russian forces took control of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant shortly after a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
— Amanda Macias
‘Any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide,’ U.N. Secretary General says
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant should be demilitarized immediately.
Guterres, speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said “any potential damage to Zaporizhzhia is suicide.”
“Military equipment and personnel should be withdrawn from the plant. Further deployment of forces or equipment to the site must be avoided,” he added.
Guterres urged all parties to approve the International Atomic Energy Agency, a nuclear watchdog, to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
— Amanda Macias
Russia allegedly tells nuclear power plant workers to not go to work tomorrow amid concerns of a planned incident
Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military, told NBC News that new intelligence indicates the Kremlin has informed its forces at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to leave tomorrow, a revelation that comes amid speculation that Russia is planning an incident at the facility.
Earlier today, Russia’s military accused Ukraine of planning a “provocation” at the plant on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of laying the groundwork to create an incident at the facility in order to blame Ukraine for the mishap.
Read more from NBC News here.
— Amanda Macias
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