Latest news with #YuriiVitrenko
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
No sign Russia is preparing to restart Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Reuters reports
There is currently no indication that Russia is preparing to restart operations at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on May 29, despite concerns over recent reports of new Russian infrastructure around the facility, Reuters reported. "Our teams continue to confirm there is no indication at the moment that there will be any active preparations for a restart of the plant now," an IAEA official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The comment follows Ukraine's protest to the IAEA over what it called an illegal Russian attempt to connect the facility to its own energy grid. Yurii Vitrenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the IAEA, said any such move would be a gross violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. Satellite imagery reviewed in a recent Greenpeace report and cited by the New York Times shows Russia has constructed more than 80 kilometers (49 miles) of high-voltage lines between the occupied cities of Mariupol and Berdiansk since February. The group said this may be an effort to link the Zaporizhzhia plant to a substation near Mariupol, signaling potential plans to restart the facility and fully integrate it into Russia's grid. The Zaporizhzhia plant, located in the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, is Europe's largest nuclear facility and has been under Russian control since March 2022. All six of its reactors remain shut down as the war continues, and the site has faced repeated power outages and safety threats due to nearby shelling. Restarting any of the reactors would require a stable supply of water and external power. The plant lost access to its main cooling source, the Kakhovka reservoir, when the dam was blown up by the Russian forces in June 2023. Wells now supply enough water for cooling during cold shutdown, but not for full operations. "The plant lost its main source of cooling water, so the whole system cannot work as it was originally designed," the IAEA official said. "The consumption of water is orders of magnitude higher (when the plant is operating) compared to cold shutdown. We don't see any easy, quick fix for it." In March, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Reuters that restarting the facility could be feasible within months of a lasting ceasefire — something that remains elusive. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet in Istanbul for renewed peace talks on June 2. Previously, the U.S. has reportedly proposed that control over the plant be returned to Ukraine before transferring its management to the U.S. to supply electricity to areas under both Ukrainian and Russian control. Moscow immediately rejected the suggestion, claiming it was in "very good hands" under Russian control. Read also: Ukraine seeks US support in regaining control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, joint energy projects We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia has abducted over 19,000 Ukrainian children, another 1,700 missing
Ukraine is calling on the OSCE to pay attention to the illegal deportation of 19,546 Ukrainian children by Russia and the disappearance of a further 1,700 children who have fallen victim to Russian aggression. Kyiv is demanding greater involvement from international organisations in bringing these children home. Source: Yurii Vitrenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organisations in Vienna, during a regular meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, as reported by Ukrinform Details: Vitrenko emphasised that these actions violate international norms and constitute a deliberate genocidal policy by the Kremlin against the Ukrainian people. "The illegal deportation and forced Russification of Ukrainian children are part of the Kremlin's genocidal policy against the Ukrainian people. Ukraine will never agree to compromises on this issue," he stressed. Vitrenko reported that at least 380 Ukrainian children had been placed under so-called "temporary guardianship" (illegally adopted) in Russia. Only 1,227 children have been successfully brought back, while Russia continues to obstruct this process by all possible means. He highlighted the importance of involving the international community in addressing this issue and urged the OSCE to take more active steps to ensure the children's return and reintegration into Ukraine. Quote: "We consider this a matter of critical importance for future generations. Ukraine expects the OSCE to take an active role in facilitating the return of all deported children, illegally detained civilians and medical workers, in protecting the rights of prisoners of war and in securing the release of Crimean political prisoners." Details: In his speech, Vitrenko also specifically highlighted the systematic torture and other forms of unlawful treatment suffered by Ukrainian civilians and POWs in Russian captivity. "The issue of Russia holding Ukrainian civilians and military personnel in isolation remains critically important, as does the prohibition of access to them for representatives of the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross," he stated. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
