Russia’s permanent representative to the UN said on August 12, 2022, that Russia opposed the creation of a demilitarized zone around the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant because of the “risk of provocations and terrorist attacks.”
Source: Permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vasyl Nebenzya
According to Nebenzya, the Russians are “protecting” the NPP, in particular, “against terrorist attacks.”
“The demilitarization of the station can make it vulnerable to those who want to visit it. No one knows what their goals and objectives will be. We cannot rule out any provocations, and terrorist attacks on the station, which we must protect,” Nebenzya said cynically.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said at a meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia should allow an IAEA-led mission to the ZNPP, demine the ZNPP facilities, and withdraw military personnel and weapons from the plant.
In addition, the US at the meeting of the UN Security Council indicated that for the safety of the nuclear power plant, it is necessary to withdraw Russian troops from there, create a demilitarized zone there and ensure the access of IAEA experts.
It should be noted, that the Zaporizhzhia NPP has been under the control of Russian invaders since March 4. Ukraine’s officials and scientists warned that the actions of Russian troops could lead to a disaster on the level of Chornobyl or Fukushima.
See also: An accident at the Ukrainian nuclear plant can endanger Europe and Asia, – Ukraine’s Parliament