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IAEA Board calls on Russia to leave Zaporizhzhia, two years on

The U.N. nuclear guard dog's. Board of Governors voted on Thursday to require Russia withdraw. from Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear reactor (ZNPP), in a. resolution passed days after the twoyear anniversary of the. plant's capture by Russian soldiers.

It was the board's fourth resolution condemning Russia's. actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities. The first was. passed in March 2022, the day before Russia captured Europe's. biggest nuclear plant. The last was in November 2022.

Resolution has been adopted by the majority of votes,. Ukraine's mission to the International Atomic Energy Company said. on X.

The text adopted late on Thursday said the board called for. the immediate withdrawal of all unapproved military and other. unauthorized workers from Ukraine's ZNPP and for the plant to. be instantly returned to the full control of the competent. Ukrainian authorities.

The board likewise restates its serious concern that the. Russian Federation has not followed the previous calls ... to. withdraw its military and other workers from the ZNPP, it. stated.

The plant is near the cutting edge in territory Moscow claims. to have annexed from Ukraine. All six of its reactors are shut. down, however it still needs continuous power to keep fuel in those. reactors cool and avoid a possibly catastrophic crisis.

At today's quarterly meeting of the 35 member-state. board, delegates have shown support for Ukraine by wearing. its national colours, yellow and blue, or displaying them with. lanyards, ribbons or flowers.

The IAEA, which has a small number of personnel at Zaporizhzhia,. states security there stays precarious.

In the previous 18 months the plant has actually been cut off from. external power eight times, requiring it to count on diesel. generators. Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for. shelling that has downed power lines.

(source: Reuters)