KIEV: As dozens of nations called for the rapid departure of Russian soldiers from the area, artillery shells once more hit the Ukrainian city of Enerhodar near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

42 coluntreis issued a declaration saying that "the stationing of Russian military personnel and weaponry at the nuclear site is unacceptable."

"We call upon the Russian Federation to right away withdraw its military forces and all other unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, its immediate surroundings, and all of Ukraine so as to enable the operator and the Ukrainian authorities resume their sovereign responsibilities within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders."

The European Union along with the US, Britain, Norway, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and numerous other nations, made the demand.  The statement said, "This will also make it possible for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to conduct its verification in accordance with Ukraine's safeguards commitments in a timely way and under safe and secure circumstances."

The largest nuclear power facility in Europe has been shelled for a number of weeks while Russian forces have been stationed there since March. Each side blamed the other for the shelling carried out on Sunday, and both sides reported that one civilian had been killed.

Russian officials claimed that "Ukrainian nationalists" had attacked the region, but the Ukrainian mayor of the city, Dmytro Orlov, warned of a "murderous provocation" on the part of the Russians. The incident was not independently verified.

Experts from the IAEA are set to inspect the site. However, the United Nations, Ukraine  and Russia cannot agree on the planning for the visit.

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