KYIV, Nov 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s atomic watchdog chief on Sunday denounced “targeted” strikes at Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, calling for a “stop to this madness”, as Kyiv and Moscow traded blame.
Ukraine meanwhile dismissed Russian accusations that it had executed surrendering soldiers.
“The news from our team yesterday and this morning is extremely disturbing,” said a statement Sunday from Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“Explosions occurred at the site of this major nuclear power plant, which is completely unacceptable.
“Whoever is behind this, it must stop immediately,” he added.
“As I have said many times before, you’re playing with fire!”
There were more than a dozen blasts overnight Saturday to Sunday, some of which a team of experts from the agency on site had themselves seen, the IAEA said in a statement.
Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV later Sunday, Grossi was clear that the strikes on the plant were no accident.
“The people who are doing this know where they are hitting. It is absolutely deliberate, targeted.”
The IAEA is to send a team of experts to the plant — the biggest nuclear facility in Europe — and which is currently controlled by Russian troops.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his daily address, said there had been nearly 400 Russian attacks in the east of the country alone on Sunday.
The toughest battles, he said, were in the eastern Donetsk region — one of those Russia now claims as its own. Fighting was also continuing in neighbouring Lugansk.
Teams were working around the clock to repair damage to the energy infrastructure wrought by Russia’s artillery bombardments — but “stabilisation blackouts” were nevertheless necessary in 15 regions, including Kyiv, he added.
And he once again set out Kyiv’s terms for peace, which include food and energy security, the release of all prisoners and deportees and the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory. — NNN-AGENCIES
