UNSC: India voices concern over situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine

World

India expressed worry over the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine on Tuesday, warning that any mishap involving nuclear facilities might have grave implications.

Addressing a United Nations Security Council briefing, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, stated that India continues to closely monitor developments concerning the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and places a high value on ensuring their safety and security. According to the ambassador, India also places a high premium on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carrying out its safeguards and monitoring operations in line with its Statute in an effective, objective, and efficient way.

“India remains concerned over the situation at the Zaporizhya Nuclear Power Plant. We support the ongoing efforts including that of the IAEA to reduce tensions and steps to ensure nuclear safety and security at the facility,” Kamboj said.

This concern comes as recent weeks have seen an escalation in shelling in and around Europe’s largest nuclear facility.

The UNSC meeting was requested by Russia, whose forces have occupied the plant since March, or shortly after the start of the war, while Ukrainian personnel continue to carry out their on-site operations.

“We have noted the latest information available with regard to the nuclear power plants and facilities in Ukraine, including the updates published on August 19 by the IAEA. We hope the proposed visit by a team from IAEA to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and its surrounding areas will be agreed by the two sides, as indicated in their recent statements,” she added.

According to India’s UN envoy, New Delhi would continue to emphasise that the global order is based on international law, the UN Charter, and respect for nations’ territorial integrity and sovereignty.

At the same press conference, UN political affairs head Rosemary DiCarlo stated that an agreement is urgently needed to reconstruct the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine as entirely civilian infrastructure and avoid a possibly “catastrophic” tragedy.

DiCarlo expressed the UN’s continued grave worry about the perilous situation, remembering the Secretary-calls General’s for common sense, reason, and moderation, as well as dialogue.

The UN has once again urged the parties to grant the IAEA prompt, secure, and unrestricted access to the nuclear facility.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, repeated his plea on Tuesday for a mission to carry out critical safety, security, and protection activities at the site.

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