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UN nuclear watchdog's board sets emergency situation meeting after Zaporizhzhia attacks

The U.N. nuclear guard dog's Board of Governors will hold an emergency conference on Thursday at the demand of both Ukraine and Russia to talk about attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, after the enemies implicated each other of drone attacks.

The International Atomic Energy Firm has said drones struck the Russian-held facility in southern Ukraine on Sunday, hitting one reactor building. It has actually not ascribed blame but has required such attacks stop.

Russia said on Tuesday that Ukraine had actually once again attacked the plant with drones, for a

3rd day

. Kyiv stated it had nothing to do with any such attacks, and any occurrences were staged by Moscow.

Russia and Ukraine have actually consistently accused one another of targeting Zaporizhzhia since it was caught by Russian forces in the first weeks of Moscow's intrusion of its neighbour in 2022; both sides reject attacking it.

All reactors are closed down at Europe's largest nuclear power station, situated near the Ukraine war's front line, but it needs consistent power to cool the reactors and prevent a. possibly catastrophic meltdown.

In a personal note to member states seen . on Tuesday, the chairperson of the 35-member IAEA Board stated. Ukraine and Russia had both composed to him the previous day. asking for an amazing meeting.

I thus notify the Members of the Board that a conference. of the Board has been set up as follows: 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) on. Thursday, 11 April 2024, the note stated.

Russian and Ukrainian letters were attached to the. chairperson's note. Russia stated it wanted a conference on the. current attacks and provocations of the armed forces of Ukraine. versus Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv said it wanted to go over the. scenario in Ukraine and the safety, security and safeguards. ramifications.

The guidelines of the Board, the Vienna-based IAEA's top. decision-making body that meets numerous times a year, state that. any country on it can call a meeting. Both Russia and Ukraine. are on the Board this year.

A Board meeting would be not likely to bring clarity as to. who was behind current attacks.

The Board has actually passed four resolutions considering that Russia. got into Ukraine in 2022 condemning Russian actions versus. Ukrainian nuclear centers. The most current was

last month

, calling on Russia to withdraw from Zaporizhzhia.

Just China has actually signed up with Russia in opposing those. resolutions. Diplomats said they had actually not heard of a push for a. resolution on Thursday, which would be more difficult at such. short notification.

(source: Reuters)