United Nations, 6 Jun (ZXS) -- The UN Security Council urgently deliberated on the Ukraine issue on 6 June. Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said at the meeting that China is seriously concerned about the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka hydropower station.
On the same day, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Griffiths made a briefing that the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in the Kherson region was destroyed on the 6th, which is the most serious damage to civilian facilities since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. There are reports that 40 settlements in the Kherson region have been flooded or partially submerged. The United Nations was unable to obtain independent information to verify the circumstances surrounding the dam destruction. All parties must continue to pay attention to and ensure the safety of civilians.
Zhang Jun said that the protection of civilians and critical civilian facilities in armed conflict is an important principle under international humanitarian law. China expresses its grave concern over the destruction of the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station and the humanitarian, economic and ecological impact therefrom. China calls on all parties to the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and make every effort to protect civilians and civilian facilities.
Zhang Jun said that the burst of the dike has caused flooding, a large number of people need to be urgently evacuated, and more than tens of thousands of people may face difficulties in drinking water. China supports the active action of the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations to provide full assistance for the transfer of personnel and follow-up assistance.
Zhang Jun said that the Kakhovka reservoir is also an important source of cooling water for the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. China has noted that the Director General of the IAEA confirmed that the Zaporizhzhya NPP is not yet facing safety risks, but the water level of the Kakhovka Reservoir continues to decline, and it may not be possible to continue pumping water to the Zaporizhzhya NPP in the future. China reiterates that once a nuclear disaster occurs, no one can be spared from it. China calls for maximum restraint, avoiding words and deeds that may escalate confrontation and lead to miscalculations, and maintaining the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
Zhang Jun said that China is worried about the delay or even further escalation of the Ukrainian crisis. The events that have just taken place remind us once again that anything can happen in a conflict situation. The spread of war will only exacerbate suffering and suffering and bring with it more unpredictable and significant risks. All parties concerned should exercise rational restraint and resume peace talks as soon as possible. With a greater sense of urgency, the international community should make every effort to create favourable conditions for promoting dialogue and negotiation and restoring peace. No party, especially a country with important influence, should do anything to add fuel to the fire and intensify contradictions, let alone try to seek personal interests from the expansion of the crisis and serve its own strategic objectives. China will, as always, continue to stand on the side of peace and work with relevant partners to make unremitting efforts to promote peace and talks and achieve a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. (End)