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Zelensky calls Russia’s nuclear plant strike 'terror'

06.08.2022 12:50
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia must take responsibility for an "act of terror" after Kyiv and Moscow traded blame for strikes at Europe's largest nuclear plant.
Russian servicemen on guard at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar, southeastern Ukraine, May 2022. Europes biggest nuclear plant Zaporizhzhia situated near the frontline, needs an inspection and repairs, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on 01 August 2022.
Russian servicemen on guard at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Enerhodar, southeastern Ukraine, May 2022. Europe's biggest nuclear plant Zaporizhzhia situated near the frontline, needs an inspection and repairs, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said on 01 August 2022. Photo: Sergei Ilnitsky PAP/EPA

"Today, the occupiers have created another extremely risky situation for all of Europe: they struck the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant twice," Zelensky said in his daily video address late Friday.

"Any bombing of this site is a shameless, brazen crime and an act of terror," he stated, adding that Russia must be held responsible for the very fact of creating a threat to a nuclear power plant.

“This is not just another argument in favour of recognising Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. This is also an argument in favour of applying tough sanctions against the entire Russian nuclear industry from (Russia's state-run nuclear company) Rosatom to all related companies and individuals,” Zelensky went on to say.

Russian troops were said to have placed explosives, missiles and military equipment at the Enerhodar power plant in order to shield themselves from Ukrainian attacks, the Polish Radio IAR news agency wrote on Friday.

The Russians took control of the plant in March after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into the pro-Western country on February 24.

This week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the situation at the nuclear power plant was "volatile".

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Sources: IAR, AFP