"We categorically reject insane allegations": Ukraine's UN representative Kyslytsia explains purpose of Russia's provocations at ZNPP

This was stated on Monday, April 15, at a meeting of the UN Security Council by Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya.

"We categorically reject the insane allegations that Ukraine may cause nuclear disaster. Does anyone believe that the country that is still recovering from the biggest nuclear disaster would like a repeat of Chornobyl 1986? This is an idea that could only enter the minds of the Kremlin propagandists as only the Kremlin propagandists openly dream of radioactive dust replacing Ukrainian cities," Kyslytsya said.

The Permanent Representative of Ukraine emphasized that the only root cause of all nuclear safety risks is Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.

"What happened at the ZNPP on 7th and 9th of April 2024 and thereafter was a well-planned false flag operation by the Russian Federation. It was aimed at shifting the focus from the above root cause and the only way to remove all threats to nuclear safety and security, and that is de-occupation of the station," Kyslytsya emphasized.

He noted that this is why the Russians want to feed the world with the version that nuclear reactors, whose protection is designed to withstand the heaviest attacks, were attacked by low-powered short-range FVP drones designed to hit infantry and small vehicles at a distance of several kilometers.

Kyslytsya added that the militarization of the station and the adjacent Russian-occupied territories remains part of Russia's military strategy. Moscow uses them as a cover for artillery strikes on the territories and settlements on the other side of the Dnipro.

"The International Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia regularly records numerous rounds of outgoing artillery fire from near the facility. The presence of Russian military equipment and personnel at the ZNPP was confirmed by independent observers and the IAEA. Recently new footage of Russian soldiers and military equipment in the halls of the power units emerged on social media," reminded Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Security Council.

"We call on the international community to strongly condemn Russian provocations at the ZNPP and join the implementation of the Peace Formula proposed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one of the important points of which is the restoration of nuclear and radiation safety. Ukraine also calls on all our partners to increase their pressure on the aggressor state, including by imposing sanctions against the atomic energy sector, to prevent further Russian provocations at the ZNPP and facilitate the de-occupation of the plant," he added.

• Earlier, on April 9, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced 3 direct hits to the protective structures of the main reactor of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the world to condemn another Russian provocation at ZNPP
• April 13, All six power units of the Zaporizhzhia NPP are put into a "cold shutdown" state for the first time since 2022
• April 14 The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announces that the Russians are preparing a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and plan to blame Ukraine for it
• On April 15, the UN Security Council meets to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant seized by Russian troops in March 2022. During the meeting, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said that the risk to Zaporizhzhia NPP had increased due to shelling.