Russia has given UN inspectors hope that they will be able to visit the site of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which has come under attack. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday that Russia will do “whatever is necessary” to allow IAEA inspectors to visit the country. Russia’s representative to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, added that a visit by experts from the UN agency could be organized in the near future.
But there are still obstacles. Ulyanov did not say what they are. The absolute security of the international mission is paramount.
occupied
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of bombing Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. Russian troops have occupied the plant since early March, but Ukrainian technicians still operate it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Russia to return control of the nuclear plant to his country. According to the Ukrainian military, Russian troops are using the nuclear plant as a protective shield because an attack there is impossible. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week called for an end to hostilities in the area around the nuclear plant.
The issue was also the subject of a session of the UN Security Council, in which Russia has the right of veto. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Wassily Nebensya recently said that the world was “on the brink of nuclear catastrophe”, comparable to the worst-case scenario at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in April 1986.
Nearly six months after the start of his war of aggression, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the goal of the complete capture of Donbass. The Russian army is carrying out its duties in the “People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk”, the Kremlin chief told international guests at a military forum near Moscow in the “Patriot” park on Monday.
martial law
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament has extended martial law and general mobilization that have been in effect since February 24 for another 90 days. The announcement was made by Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk on Monday after a session. Martial law and mobilization, including a ban on leaving the country for men aged between 18 and 60, now apply until 21 November inclusive. It is the second extension since the Russian war of aggression began nearly six months ago.
Martial law gives the military extended rights and restricts civil liberties, such as the right to demonstrate. Many experts see the duration of the state of war as an indicator of how long Kyiv is currently preparing for possible combat.
In the Black Sea, in the Odessa region, three swimmers were killed by an explosive device explosion. Two other people were injured, according to police. Victims ignored barriers and warning signs on the beach. Beaches and coastlines are mined to prevent Russian attacks.