US accuses Russia of using a nuclear shield in Ukraine

The United States has accused Russia of using Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant as a "nuclear shield" by deploying troops there, preventing Ukrainian forces from returning fire and risking a horrific nuclear accident.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States is deeply concerned that the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, near which Russia was accused of firing missiles dangerously close in March, is now a Russian military base used to fire on nearby Ukrainian forces.

"Of course, the Ukrainians cannot respond for fear of a terrible accident related to the nuclear plant," Blinken told reporters after talks at the United Nations in New York on non-proliferation.

He said Russia's actions went beyond using a "human shield", describing it as a "nuclear shield".

"Strong joint measures are needed to prevent a nuclear catastrophe," Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mykola Tuchitsky said at the New York talks.

He called on the international community to close the airspace over Ukrainian nuclear power plants with air defense systems.

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