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Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the United Nations that Russia is planning deeper attacks on his country’s nuclear power plants, warning of possible “nuclear disaster”. <\/p>\n
He said he had received intelligence showing Moscow was using satellites provided by other countries to gather information about Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure. <\/p>\n
“Radiation does not respect state borders and many nations could feel a devastating effect,\u201d he warned the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
Russia has repeatedly targeted energy facilities across Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Any critical incident in the energy system could lead to a nuclear disaster – a day like that must never come,” Zelensky said.<\/p>\n
“Moscow needs to understand this, and this depends in part on your determination to put pressure on the aggressor.<\/p>\n
“These are nuclear power plants. They must be safe.”<\/p>\n
The UN nuclear watchdog warned last month that safety at the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Russian-occupied Ukraine was deteriorating. <\/p>\n
It followed a strike near the site’s perimeter, close to essential water sprinkler ponds and about 100m from the only remaining high-voltage line. <\/p>\n
The plant was seized by Russian forces early in the war and has come under repeated attacks, which both sides have blamed the other for.<\/p>\n
Zelensky said in his speech on Wednesday that Russia had destroyed all of Ukraine\u2019s thermal power plants and a large part of its hydroelectric capacity as a way to \u201ctorment\u201d Ukrainians ahead of winter.<\/p>\n
“Energy must stop being used as a weapon,” he said.<\/p>\n