On the anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for pressure on Russia to return the nuclear power plant to Ukraine’s control.
The head of state published a corresponding appeal on his Telegram channel.
– Radiation does not recognise borders and does not distinguish between national flags. The Chornobyl disaster showed the world how quickly deadly threats can arise,’ the message says.
Zelenskyy noted that tens of thousands of people stopped the expansion of the Chornobyl disaster at the cost of their health and lives and eliminated its terrible consequences in 1986 and years later.
He recalled that at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Chornobyl nuclear power plant was occupied for 35 days. Russian troops looted the laboratories, captured the guards, abused the staff and used the ChNPP to launch further military operations.
The need to return ZNPP to Ukrainian control
– For 785 days now, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhya NPP, has been held hostage by Russian terrorists. And it is the duty of the whole world to put pressure on Russia to ensure that ZNPP is liberated and returned under full control of Ukraine and that all nuclear facilities in Ukraine are protected from Russian attacks,’ the President stressed.
Zelenskyy added that this is the only way to ensure that the world does not suffer new radiation disasters, which is exactly what the occupiers’ presence at ZNPP threatens every day.
He called to remember the strength and dedication of people who saved lives in 1986, as well as to appreciate everyone who helps protect lives now.
Earlier, the IAEA reported that on the morning of 18 April, the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP was attacked by drones.