Kyiv [Ukraine], March 8 (ANI): Ukraine has asked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ban Russia from accessing its technological resources as well as break off its relations with Russian citizens in UN structures related to the nuclear field, Ukraine's energy ministry said on Tuesday.

The statement issued by the Energy Ministry on Facebook called for "prohibiting Russia's access to intellectual and technological resources of IAEA, breaking relations with Russian citizens engaged in UN nuclear energy-related structures".

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The statement further appealed for an immediate ceasefire and prohibition of the occupation troops to approach closer than 30 km to nuclear energy objects.

"We have already sent an official appeal to IAEA explaining our vision of ensuring security in terms of military actions that Russia is conducting on our territory," the statement read.

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The statement also called for IAEA to 'address' NATO to close the airspace over the territory of Ukraine, considering the geography of the Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) location on the territory of Ukraine.

The statement comes days after Russian forces took control of Zaporizhzhia NPP. Ukraine informed the IAEA that Russian forces had taken control of the site of the Nuclear facility. Ukrainian counterparts also informed the IAEA that a projectile had hit a training building in the vicinity of one of the plant's reactor units, causing a localized fire that was later extinguished.

IAEA informed on Sunday that Ukraine's nuclear regulator has reported problems in communicating with the staff operating at the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities had reported to the IAEA that the regular staff continued to operate the plant but the plant management is under the orders from the Commander of Russian forces controlling the site. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)