The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday demanding that Russia promptly remove its military forces and personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, and return control of the plant to Ukraine without delay.
The resolution reiterated the Assembly's call for Russia to cease its aggression against Ukraine, withdraw all troops, and uphold Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. The resolution was approved by a vote of 99-9, with 60 countries abstaining and 25 countries not voting.
Russia, along with Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Syria, Burundi, and North Korea, opposed the resolution. China, India, South Africa, and several Middle Eastern countries abstained from voting.
The resolution expressed grave concerns about the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised alarms about the plant's electricity cuts and supply issues, with confirmed attacks against the facility reported since April 7.
Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of attacking the plant, with Ukraine's ambassador highlighting the potential catastrophic consequences of a nuclear incident at Zaporizhzhia. He emphasized the importance of a unified stance against the militarization of the plant.
Russia's deputy ambassador accused Ukraine and its Western allies of using the resolution to advance political agendas, alleging that the real aim was to gain approval for the outcomes of a recent peace conference regarding Ukraine.
The conference communique emphasized the need for Ukraine's territorial integrity and the importance of keeping nuclear facilities, including Zaporizhzhia, under Ukrainian control in line with IAEA principles.
The ongoing tensions surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant underscore the critical importance of nuclear security and international cooperation in safeguarding such facilities from potential risks and conflicts.
