Regarding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the southeastern part of Ukraine, which is controlled by the Russian military, the Russian side has shown its intention to reject UN Secretary-General Guterres and others' claims to demilitarize it, and the international community has expressed interest in nuclear power plants. There is a series of voices of criticism that it is used as a shield.
In Ukraine, in eastern Kharkiv, there were shellings on houses from the 17th to the 18th, and according to the governor, 17 people, including children, were killed and violent attacks were being carried out.
In addition, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and its surroundings have been bombarded one after another this month, and Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly accused each other of attacking each other.
Under these circumstances, UN Secretary-General Guterres, who is visiting Lviv in the western part of the country, held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 18th and asked Russia to stop military operations and withdraw its troops, stating that the area around the nuclear power plant should be demilitarized. I clarified what I asked for.
Also on the 18th, US State Department spokesman Price said, ``I condemn in the strongest terms Russia's disregard for nuclear safety,'' and called on Ukraine to return control of the nuclear power plant.
In response, a deputy spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry rejected the proposal, saying it was "unacceptable."
A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry also denounced UN Secretary-General António Guterres' visit to Ukraine, saying, "Ukraine is preparing a nuclear provocation on the 19th during the UN Secretary-General's visit."
On the other hand, the Ukrainian side has also claimed that "Russia may carry out a terrorist attack in line with the UN Secretary-General's stay in Ukraine," and both sides have repeatedly criticized.
IAEA = The International Atomic Energy Agency aims to enter into inspections and investigations to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants, but the procedures for realizing them are expected to be difficult, and the international community has warned that Russia will use nuclear power plants as a shield. There is a series of voices of criticism.