UN chief warns of 'suicidal' attacks on Ukrainian nuclear power plant

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday condemned the fighting around the vast Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex in southern Ukraine, saying any attack on a nuclear facility is "suicidal".< /p>

Russian forces have occupied the nuclear complex, the largest in Europe, since March, and have used it for a month as a base to launch barrages artillery fire on the Ukrainian-held town of Nikopol across the Dnipro River.

In recent days there have been explosions and rockets hitting on the grounds of the complex. Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the attacks, which raised fears of a major nuclear accident.

Mr. António Guterres said on Monday he hoped the attacks would stop and that the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, would have access to the plant, as requested by Ukraine. .

I.A.E.A. Director Rafael Mariano Grossi said last week that he was ready to lead an expert mission there to stabilize the situation and carry out inspections.

Mr. Guterres' remarks came at a news conference in Tokyo two days after he called for global nuclear disarmament during a commemoration of the 77th anniversary of the US nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Mr. Guterres did not blame the attacks in his comments.

But Russia and Ukraine continued to accuse each other of endangering nuclear security . While Russian forces control the plant, Ukrainian personnel have continued to work there. They are under enormous pressure, according to Ukrainian officials, who say the workers were subjected to harsh interrogations, including torture with electric shocks, and, as the risk of a fight increased, were prevented from leaving. withdraw to underground shelters.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">On Monday, the company overseeing the Zaporizhzhia plant said that Russian shrapnel the day before had injured a worker. The woman is "in moderate condition" in the intensive care unit of Energodar City Hospital, the company said in a Telegram post.

"The Ukrainian personnel of the station continue to work, in inhumane conditions, taking all measures to ensure the nuclear and radiological safety not only of our country, but also of the whole world," Energoatom said.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Monday accused Ukrainian forces of bombing the plant again on Sunday in what he called an "act of nuclear terrorism". He said the shelling damaged a high-voltage line that supplies electricity to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.