US remains deeply concerned over Russia's continued control of the Zaporizhzhia plant

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (KUNA) -- The US said Thursday it remains "deeply concerned" over Russia's "military takeover and continued control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant." State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters during a briefing that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "must be given access to the ZNPP as soon as possible and in a manner that respects Ukraine's full sovereignty to help ensure the safety and security of the plant and monitoring of its nuclear material." He added that the US "is aware of reports that Russian personnel have abused and coerced members of the ZNPP staff." "We applaud the Ukrainian authorities and operators for their commitment to nuclear safety and security under the most trying circumstances," he noted.
He continued that the US "condemns, in the strongest terms, Russia's reckless disregard for nuclear safety and security." "Along with our allies and partners, we call on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukraine's nuclear facilities and to return full control of the ZNPP to Ukraine," he stressed.
"We continue to support the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to fulfill its safeguards mandate and to assist Ukraine with nuclear safety and security measures across its nuclear facilities," he affirmed. (end) si.mb