The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam in southern Ukraine has caught global attention since Tuesday.
The collapse of the dam has caused flooding. Many people are in urgent need of evacuation and tens of thousands may face difficulties in accessing drinking water.
The UN, Russia and Ukraine have all condemned the destruction of the power plant dam as a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.
The reservoir, formed by the dam, is also a major source of cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, one of Europe's largest nuclear power plants, has been controlled by Russian forces since early March last year.
The IAEA excluded immediate safety risks to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
However, as the water in the reservoir continues to recede, it may not be possible to continue pumping water to the nuclear power plant in the future.
"China reiterates that in the event of a nuclear disaster, no one can stay immune. We call for maximum restraint, for the avoidance of words and deeds that could escalate confrontation and lead to miscalculation, and for efforts to maintain the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.
The protection of civilians and critical civilian facilities in armed conflict is an important principle enshrined in international humanitarian law, Zhang added.
Russia and Ukraine have been trading accusations over the destruction on the hydroelectric power plant.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant "by the armed forces of Ukraine," calling on the international community "to condemn the criminal acts of the Ukrainian authorities."
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian forces had destroyed the dam.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service■
