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A “catastrophe” at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor in southern Ukraine would endanger all of Europe, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
“Under the cover of the plant, the occupants are shelling adjacent cities and localities,” Zelensky added in his evening address.
“Any radiation event at the Zaporizhzhia NPP has the potential to damage countries in the European Union, Turkey, Georgia, and further afield. Everything is entirely dependent on the direction and speed of the wind “he stated.
“If Russia’s actions cause a calamity, the victims may include those who have been silent thus far.”
Zelensky urged the international community not to succumb to “nuclear blackmail” by imposing “additional severe sanctions against Russia.”
“All Russian forces must be withdrawn from the plant and adjacent regions immediately and unconditionally,” he said.
The plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, was taken over by Russian forces in early March, not long after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia has been the subject of a number of military strikes since the end of July, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing the other of being behind the shelling.
Last Thursday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss the fighting at the plant.
Ukraine has accused Russia of using the factory as a base for potential strikes as well as a storage facility for weapons.
