# U.S., allies slam Russia at U.N. over its seizure of Ukraine nuclear plant
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-03-04
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: World Averted Nuclear Catastrophe at Europe's Largest
Meta Description: United States and its allies strongly criticize Russia for shelling and seizing Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, urging Moscow to prevent
URL: https://financedigest.com/u-s-allies-slam-russia-at-u-n-over-its-seizure-of-ukraine-nuclear-planthtml

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By Humeyra Pamuk and Doina Chiacu

(Reuters) -The United States and its allies heavily criticized Russia on Friday at the United Nations over its shelling and seizure overnight in Ukraine of Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant, and some demanded that Moscow not let such an attack happen again.

“The world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, told an emergency meeting of the 15-member Security Council, convened following the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear [power plant](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") in southeastern Ukraine by Russian troops.

Russia’s attack last night put [Europe’s largest nuclear power](https://www.financedigest.com/edf-edison-ansaldo-team-up-to-develop-nuclear-power-in-europe.html "EDF, Edison, Ansaldo team up to develop nuclear power in Europe") plant at grave risk. It was incredibly reckless and dangerous. And it threatened the safety of civilians across Russia, Ukraine and Europe,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

As shells hit the area early on Friday, a blaze broke out in a training [building – triggering a spasm of alarm around the world before the fire was extinguished and officials said the facility](https://www.financedigest.com/li-cycle-to-build-french-battery-processing-facility.html "Li-Cycle to build French battery processing facility") was safe.

Officials remained worried about the precarious circumstances, with [Ukrainian staff operating under Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-volunteers-recount-three-weeks-in-russian-captivity-allege-beatings.html "Ukrainian volunteers recount three weeks in Russian captivity, allege beatings") control in battlefield conditions beyond the reach of administrators.

United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward said: “It must not happen again. Even in the midst of an illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia must keep fighting away from and protect the safety and security of [nuclear sites.”](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point")

International Atomic [Energy Agency chief](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-will-consider-making-countries-fill-gas-storage-energy-chief.html "EU will consider making countries fill gas storage – energy chief") Raphael Grossi described the situation as “normal operations, but in fact there is nothing normal about this.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed or wounded and more than 1 million refugees have fled [Ukraine since](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war") Russian began its invasion on Feb. 24. Western nations retaliated with sanctions that have plunged [Russia into economic isolation](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war").

Russia’s envoy to the [United Nations Vassily Nebenzia dismissed Western uproar over the nuclear](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-competition-watchdog-to-examine-edf-buying-ges-nuclear-turbine-unit.html "UK’s competition watchdog to examine EDF buying GE’s nuclear turbine unit") power plant and called Friday’s Security Council meeting another attempt by Ukrainian authorities to create “artificial hysteria.

At present, the Zaporizhzhia [nuclear power plant](https://www.financedigest.com/e-on-casts-doubt-on-german-plan-to-keep-nuclear-plants-on-standby.html "E.ON casts doubt on German plan to keep nuclear plants on standby") and adjacent territory are being guarded by Russian troops,” he said.

Military operations around nuclear sites and other [critical civilian infrastructure](https://www.financedigest.com/hiding-in-plain-sight-finance-as-critical-national-infrastructure.html "Hiding in plain sight – Finance as Critical National Infrastructure") are “unacceptable” and “highly irresponsible”, U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the meeting.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Doina Chiacu in WashingtonEditing by Nick Zieminski and Grant McCool)


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