The Zaporizhzhia power station might be secured by UN forces, according to Ukraine’s nuclear chief.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has held control of the plant, which has been repeatedly attacked with each side accusing the other.
Damage was seen at the power plant by UN inspectors last week during their visit.
The inspectors advised that an emergency security zone be established to protect the facility, which is the biggest in Europe, from the conflict.
Vladimir Putin has said he trusted the report from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but criticized the agency for not saying Ukraine was to blame for shelling the area.
The Russian leader described the IAEA as “a very responsible international organization” which was under pressure. “Our servicemen are there – are we shooting at our own?” he asked, in response to claims that Russia could be responsible for shelling at the plant.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined the steps for establishing a demilitarized zone surrounding the plant during a Security Council emergency meeting.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, welcomed the IAEA’s requests for a safety protection zone at Zaporizhzhia.
Energoatom CEO Petro Kotyn said on Wednesday that Russian troops could leave while a UN peacekeeping force established a security zone near Zaporizhzhia.
