A long list of crimes and gross violations of international law committed by Russia since the beginning of its large-scale aggression against Ukraine was extended today with another atrocity — an illegal attempt to take the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under its operational control. We consider the respective decree of the Russian president as null and void.
We strongly condemn this crime that further increases risks and threats in the sphere of nuclear security caused by the Russian occupation of the ZNPP. We call on all states to adhere to the consistent position on insuring the inevitability of political, economic and legal consequences for the terrorist-state for all its crimes and illegal actions.
We propose to the European Union, G7 states and other partners to immediately consider imposition of sanctions against Russian state corporation Rosatom, affiliated companies and institutions as well as other key players of the Russian nuclear energy sphere.
We call on the member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency to restrict cooperation in the framework of any projects with Russia that resorts to undisguised nuclear blackmail of the entire world. We expect a clear position and proactive role in these issues of the IAEA Director General.
We warn Russian citizens who will follow illegal orders on seizure of objects of the civil nuclear infrastructure of Ukraine about the criminal liability for the illegal actions and inevitability of punishment.
We demand from the Russian side to ensure safety and inviolability of citizens of Ukraine who continue to perform critical functions at the Nuclear Power Plant.
We reiterate the urgent need to put maximum efforts of all members of the international community aimed at ensuring de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and its return under the control of Ukraine as the only possible way to eliminate current threats in the sphere of nuclear security.