{"id":206469,"date":"2022-09-07T10:35:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T07:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/?p=206469"},"modified":"2022-09-07T10:35:38","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T07:35:38","slug":"day-195","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uacrisis.org\/en\/day-195","title":{"rendered":"Day 195: IAEA releases report, Russia\u2019s losses top 50,000 troops, EU to suspend visa deal with Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IAEA releases report following visit to Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report on Tuesday, September 6, after a visit of the organization-led mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant captured by the Russians. The report<\/a> has 52 pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means,\u201d the report\u2019s conclusions say. \u201cThis can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone. The IAEA is ready to start immediately the consultations leading to the urgent establishment of such a nuclear safety and security protection zone at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,\u201d the organization stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first time a \u201cmilitary conflict\u201d occurs at a nuclear facility, the IAEA said. A nuclear accident can have a serious impact both within the country and beyond its borders, the report proceeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the mission, \u201cthe team closely witnessed shelling in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in particular on 3 September when the team was instructed to evacuate to the ground level of the Administrative Building. Moreover, the team observed damage at different locations caused by reported events with some of the damage being close to the reactor buildings,\u201d the report reads. The IAEA said the military vehicles stationed at the plant and fighting raging near the station threaten its safety systems. Shelling of the area needs to stop, the organization said without specifying who launches the attacks.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe team observed the presence of Russian military personnel, vehicles and equipment at various places at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, including several military trucks on the ground floor of the Unit 1 and Unit 2 turbine halls,\u201d the mission said. The IAEA recommends to remove the vehicles \u201cfrom areas that could interfere with the operation of safety and security systems and equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IAEA mission has a limited mandate at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. It cannot demand that Russia leaves the station. In an interview with Reuters, president of Energoatom Petro Kotin called the situation at the plant \u201cvery dangerous\u201d and unprecedented because of the deterioration of the power lines linking the facility to the Ukrainian grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kyiv expected to hear more than expressions of concern from the IAEA, Kotin said. \u201cThis is a peculiar situation. All the experts and (IAEA chief Rafael) Grossi himself understand that what is needed to be done is the de-occupation. Still they can\u2019t directly propose this because of the limitation of the mandate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udea8 New IAEA report on the nuclear safety, security and safeguards situation in #Ukraine<\/a>.
Includes findings from our ongoing Support and Assistance Mission to #Zaporizhzhya<\/a> Nuclear Power Plant.
\ud83d\udcd1 https:\/\/t.co\/Qy45ajMcxE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BnrxBscYSS<\/a><\/p>— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) September 6, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Price of invasion: Russia loses more than 50,000 troops, Ukraine\u2019s General Staff says<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has lost around 50,150 troops, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, quoting count as of morning of September 6. A day earlier, the Russian forces took the heaviest losses on the Donetsk axis. Russia has lost more than 13,000 pieces of equipment since the invasion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

European Commission proposes to suspend visa deal with Russia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The European Commission officially proposed to fully suspend the EU’s Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia, the Commission\u2019s statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal to suspend the Visa Facilitation Agreement will put an end to all facilitations for Russian citizens applying for a short-stay visa to the Schengen area. The general rules of the Visa Code will apply instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, Russian applicants will face a higher visa fee \u2013 the visa fee will increase from EUR 35 to EUR 80 for all applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Processing time will increase. The standard deadline for consulates to take a decision on visa applications will increase from 10 to 15 days. This period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 days in individual cases, when further scrutiny of the application is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be more restrictive rules on multiple-entry visas. Applicants will no longer have easy access to visas valid for multiple entries to the Schengen area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Africa: pro-Russian neutrality? Ukraine in Flames #180<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Although the African continent is as far from the battlegrounds of the Russian-Ukrainian war as possible, it still feels the impact of Russian aggression in more than one way. The key area of concern is, of course, food security. Russia has long been investing in regional influence and, while some countries try to maintain neutrality, in reality this neutrality often leans to the pro-Russian position. Ukraine In Flames #180 presents experts from the Republic of South Africa to tackle the issues shaping this position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speakers: <\/p>\n\n\n\n