Russia backs the creation of a security zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. However, according to Rosatom Chief Alexey Likhachev, this should be done under the conditions of Russia, which controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. 

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the nuclear power plant has been under the control of Russian forces and has been repeatedly disconnected from Ukraine's power grid. Fighting continues near the NPP which poses a risk of a nuclear accident.  A mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched inspections at the facility in early September, because of the heated situation around the nuclear power plant. According to the IAEA experts, the physical integrity of the Zaporizhzhia NPP was violated several times. They called for the establishment of a safety and security zone around the NPP. 

In the words of Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom outlined its proposals for how the security zone would work, including that Ukraine would not be allowed to fire on the zone or to attempt to recover it. In return, Russia will not station any offensive weapons or forces, but only means for physical protection and monitoring the plant, Likhachev said. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to act as a neutral mediator in the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, if both sides desire such support.

Russia and Ukraine carried out the latest in a series of prisoner of war exchanges on Thursday, with both sides handing over 50 people. More than 15000 people have gone missing during the war in Ukraine, an official at the International Commission on Missing Persons said.