IAEA has postponed the rotation of its mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

IAEA has postponed the rotation of its mission at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to a lack of security guarantees from Russia.

This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

“The Kremlin is not using blackmail for the first time as a tool to intimidate international experts and undermine their independence. For instance, during one of the previous rotations, Russia struck a vehicle belonging to the IAEA with a drone,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They believe that Russia has at least two reasons to pressure the independence of the IAEA. The first is to forcibly impose international recognition of the illegal occupation of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant. The second is to manipulate the operational situation in the area surrounding the plant.

“Ukraine highly values the work of the IAEA under unprecedented security conditions. We will not allow Russia to undermine the independence and impartiality of the Agency to achieve its criminal goals. We call on the international community to firmly support the IAEA and to decisively condemn the unprecedented pressure that the aggressor state continues to exert on its leadership,” the statement said.

As a reminder: Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear station in Europe. It has been under the control of Russian occupiers since March 2022. 

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that during a massive shelling, thermal power plants were damaged. After the shelling ended, energy workers promptly began addressing the aftermath of the attack and restoring equipment operations.