'Protection Zone' Around Ukraine Nuclear Plant Urgently Needed, Says Chief of International Atomic Energy Agency by Kenny Stancil
October 12, 2022
Introduction:
(Common Dream) External power has been restored to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after operators were forced to rely on diesel generators for the second time in five days amid sustained shelling, but that only underscores the urgent need to establish a "protection zone" around the Russian-occupied facility in southeastern Ukraine, the head of the United Nation's atomic watchdog said Wednesday.
A pair of independent monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency who have been stationed at Europe's largest nuclear plant since the conclusion of an inspection last month informed IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi around 8:30 am ET that the Zaporizhzhia facility had been reconnected to the grid several hours after a missile damaged an electrical substation more than 100 miles north of the site and caused it to go offline.
Calling the situation "precarious," Grossi tweeted: "We need a protection zone as soon as possible."
Hours earlier, before external power had been restored, the IAEA chief said that the "repeated loss of ZNPP's off-site power is a deeply worrying development, and it underlines the urgent need for a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the site."
Although all six nuclear reactors at the Zaporizhzhia plant have been shut down as of last month, a constant supply of electricity is still required to maintain critical safety systems and prevent a calamitous meltdown of the sort that unfolded 36 years ago at Chernobyl, roughly 400 miles away.
UN demands Russia reverse 'illegal' annexations in Ukraine
Source: AP
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of four Ukrainian regions and demand its immediate reversal, a sign of strong global opposition to the seven-month war and Moscow’s attempt to grab its neighbor’s territory.
The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions. It was the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia of the four resolutions it has approved since Russian troops invaded Ukraine Feb. 24.
Ukraine's U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, called the vote “amazing" and “a historic moment." U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said supporters were “holding our breaths" and called it “a monumental day." European Union Ambassador Olof Skoog called it “a great success" that sends “a resounding message to Russia that they are and remain isolated."
The Western-sponsored resolution was a response to Russia’s announced annexation last month of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Moscow acted following Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” that the Ukrainian government and the West have dismissed as sham votes conducted on occupied land amid warfare and displacement.
I see the Russians are beginning to realize what is coming for Kherson in what again is going to likely be the decisive battle of the war. Currently Ukrainian forces are advancing towards Mylove.
Macron what are you doing? Is this part of some strategy where you are playing the good cop to get Putin to engage while the Anglophone countries play the bad cop? Let's be real, it isn't France that Putin needs to worry about its the United States and UK. This is a bad look for France which is giving the "cheese eating surrender monkey" trope legs again...
France Says It Won’t Deploy Nukes If Russia Uses Them Against Ukraine
Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Kherson suggests residents leave
Source: Reuters
The Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region offered on Thursday to help its residents leave amid intense fighting between Russian and advancing Ukrainian forces - prompting a rapid denial from his deputy that an "evacuation" was taking place.
In a video statement on Telegram, Vladimir Saldo publicly asked for Moscow's help in transporting civilians to safer regions of Russia.
"As such, the leadership of Kherson administration has decided to provide Kherson families with the option to travel to other regions of the Russian Federation to rest and study," he said, adding that people should "leave with their children".
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But moments later, the region's deputy governor posted a video saying Saldo's appeal to Moscow was "not a call for evacuation".
