New Delhi: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India stressed on the humanitarian dimension of the conflict saying that safety of civilians and thousands of Indians are at stake.
“While we're discussing the nuclear dimension of this conflict, there is a pressing humanitarian crisis confronting us in Ukraine, where safety of civilians including 1000s of Indians is at stake,” said Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, T S Trimurti at the United Nations Security Council.
He expressed hope that “a second round of talks between two sides leads to safe humanitarian corridor.”
As Moscow launched an attack on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Power Plant on Friday, India said that “we continue to carefully follow developments regarding safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power reactors and facilities.”
“India attaches highest importance to ensuring safety and security of nuclear facilities as any accident involving the nuclear facilities may have severe consequences,” said Trimurti at UNSC.
The Permanent Representative of India to the UN said “India accords the highest priority to the discharge by the IAEA of its safeguards and monitoring activities, in accordance with its Statute in an effective, non-discriminatory and efficient manner.”
On Friday, Russian forces took over the control of Europe’s largest, Zaporizhzhia Nuclear plant after shelling the facility and sparking a fire which raised fears of radiation.
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi said the building hit by a Russian "projectile" at the Zaporizhzhia plant was "not part of the reactor" but instead a training centre at the plant, AP reported.
United Nations’ nuclear watchdog also said that there was no release of radiation from the nuclear plant.