The President of Ukraine, Zelensky has called on Western Governments to sanction Russia over Moscow’s supposed “nuclear terrorism.”
This is coming days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed concern over the shelling at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
Have you read this? We deeply regret the distress and anger our report on Ukraine caused – Amnesty International
Russia had occupied and held the Zaporizhzya nuclear power plant after furious battles and shelling in February. The facility continues to operate with Ukrainian staff under Russian control.
On Friday, Russia accused Ukraine of shelling the nuclear power plant by Russia. While on Saturday, Ukraine accused Russia of firing rockets at the facility.
The accusations of Russian rockets being fired at a nuclear facility that is occupied and controlled by Russian troops were reported widely in “Western” media.
In a Twitter post on Sunday, Zelensky said that he had spoken with European Council President Charles Michel and briefed him on the battlefield situation in Ukraine, “in particular at the Zaporozhskaya [Nuclear Power Plant].
“Russian nuclear terror requires a stronger response from the international community,” Zelensky continued, adding that he wants the West to impose “sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry and nuclear fuel.”
Although the EU has passed seven successive packages of sanctions on Russia since February, it has not targeted the country’s nuclear industry. Europe relies on Russia to provide around 20% of its uranium, and the state’s nuclear energy firm, Rosatom, operates plants in Hungary, Slovakia and Finland, though cooperation with the Russian firm has been suspended at the Finnish installation.
French nuclear firm EDF has also signed a series of cooperation deals with Rosatom in recent years.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
