UN Nuclear Supervisory Board Asks Russian Military To Leave Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Ralf1969)

JAKARTA - The UN nuclear watchdog Board on Thursday voted demanding Russia withdraw from the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), a resolution passed days after the two-year anniversary of the Russian power plant's capture by Russian forces.

This resolution is the fourth resolution to condemn Russia's actions against Ukraine's nuclear facilities. The first agreement was passed in March 2022, a day before Russia seized Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Lastly in November 2022.

"Resolutions have been adopted in the majority vote," Ukraine's mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency on X said.

The text, adopted late Thursday, said the council called for "the immediate deployment of all military personnel invalid and other unauthorized personnel from PLTN Zaporizhia, so that the nuclear power plant is immediately returned to full control of Ukrainian authorities".

The council also "reaffirmed its concern that the Russian Federation had not heeded previous calls to withdraw military personnel and others from ZNPP", he said.

The PLTN is near the front line of the area Moscow claims has been annexed from Ukraine. The six reactors were turned off, but they still needed constant power to keep the fuel at the reactor cool and prevent potential catastrophic destruction.

At a 35-member quarterly meeting of the member council this week, delegates have shown support for Ukraine by wearing its national colors, blue and yellow, or showing it off with straps, ribbons or flowers.

Previously, the IAEA, which has a small number of staff in Zaporizhia, said safety there was still in danger.

In the last 18 months, the power plant has cut its electricity eight times, so it has to rely on diesel generators. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the shooting that caused the power grid to break.