Russia putting world at risk of nuclear accident, says Ukrainian foreign minister

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Ukraine's foreign minister on Monday warned of a nuclear accident calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conclude that Russia is violating nuclear protocols.

“We expect from the mission a clear statement of facts of violation of nuclear safety protocols. We know that Russia is putting not only Ukraine but also [the] entire world at threat, at risk of nuclear accident," Dmytro Kuleba told a news conference in Stockholm.

He also added that the only way to ensure security is if Russia withdraws from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which has been under Russian control since the start of the war.

“We should all be united in demanding one thing: the withdrawal of Russia from the power plant,” said Kuleba.

He said he spoke with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday regarding the nuclear watchdog's mission to Zaporizhzhia.

Kuleba said Ukraine has been requesting IAEA access to the nuclear facility for some time and that "without exaggeration, this mission will be the hardest in the history of IAEA given the active combat activities undertaken by the Russian Federation."

The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Monday that the mission “is now on its way” to the Zaporizhzhia just as a Ukrainian official confirmed 10 casualties from Russian shelling near the plant.