President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday 25 September, 2024 on “Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine.”
 |
| President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addresses world leaders at the 79th session of UN General Assembly (UNGA) on “Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine”. Photo: @ZelenskkyUa |
According to President Zelenskyy: “Today I addressed the UN General Assembly. The world has moved beyond colonial wars and conspiracies at the expense of smaller nations. We will never accept a brutal past being forced upon Ukraine. No one should believe such injustice can replace our right to a peaceful future.
“On the night of March 4th, 2022, I received one of the most terrifying reports since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion against Ukraine. The report was about Russian tanks firing directly at the buildings of our Ukrainian nuclear power plant—Zaporizhzhia, the largest in Europe, with six nuclear reactors.
“The Russian army stormed this facility as brutally as any other during this war, without considering the consequences, which could have been disastrous. It was one of the most horrifying moments of the war, when no one knew how Russian strikes on the nuclear facility would end. Everyone in Ukraine was reminded of what Chernobyl means.
“Today, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains occupied by Russian forces. Unfortunately, it’s still at risk of a nuclear incident. This is a major source of radiation danger in Europe and possibly the world.
“That’s why, in the Peace Formula I presented, the first point is about nuclear safety. In Ukraine, we know exactly what we’re dealing with. And I want to thank the General Assembly members for adopting a resolution in July on the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
“Most in the world understand what’s at stake. The General Assembly demanded that Russia return control of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine. Only then will real nuclear security return to Europe and the world.
“And now, about the day that must never come. Since Russia can’t defeat our people’s resistance on the battlefield, Putin is looking for other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit. One of his methods is targeting our energy infrastructure.
“These are deliberate Russian attacks on our power plants and the entire energy grid. As of today, Russia has destroyed all our thermal power plants and a large part of our hydroelectric capacity. This is how Putin is preparing for winter—hoping to torment millions of Ukrainians.
“Ordinary families—women, children, and elderly people in towns and villages. Putin wants to leave them in the dark and cold this winter, forcing Ukraine to suffer and surrender. Just imagine your country with 80% of its energy system destroyed. What kind of life would that be?
“Recently, I received another alarming report from our intelligence. Putin seems to be planning attacks on our nuclear power plants and their infrastructure, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid. With the help of foreign satellites, Russia is getting images and detailed information about the infrastructure of our nuclear power plants.”
Today I addressed the UN General Assembly. The world has moved beyond colonial wars and conspiracies at the expense of smaller nations. We will never accept a brutal past being forced upon Ukraine. No one should believe such injustice can replace our right to a peaceful future. pic.twitter.com/mTzjvWN66C
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 25, 2024
