Shoigu discussed with his French colleague the situation at the Zaporozhye NPP

For the first time, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergei Shoigu, discussed with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu the situation around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP), informs Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. During a telephone conversation, Shoigu spoke about the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that threaten the stable operation of the station.

“The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army S.K. Shoigu brought assessments of the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that could disrupt the safe operation of the station. The importance of visiting ZNPP by the IAEA staff and the readiness to provide the necessary assistance to the inspectors of the Organization was noted,” the message says.

The day before, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech via video link at a meeting of the UN Security Council declaredthat the Russian military should leave the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, and control over the plant should be transferred to the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In addition, Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev Meets in Istanbul with IAEA Director Rafael Grossi, discussing “the whole range of issues” about the forthcoming IAEA mission to the Zaporozhye NPP. The Russian side reaffirmed the need for the speedy conduct of such a mission, as well as its readiness to provide all necessary support.

On August 16, it became known about the start of preparations for the second IAEA mission to ZNPP. Mikhail Ulyanov, permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, said that the preparations are still going slowly because of Grossi’s vacation. August 23 Director of the IAEA declaredthat the mission could take place within a few days in case of successful negotiations.

August 23 passed an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the situation at the ZNPP, during which the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, reported on photographic evidence of shelling of the ZNPP by Ukraine disseminated by Russia in the Council and the UN General Assembly. He also noted that since the last meeting of the UN Security Council, the situation at ZNPP has deteriorated significantly.

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