Russia criticizes IAEA for not naming source of shelling at ZNPP
Russia's Ambassador to the UN regrets the IAEA refrained from directly naming the source of the shelling on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in the report it issued today.
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Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia
Russia regrets that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not name the source of the shelling at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP), Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday.
"We regret that in your report on the safeguards implementation in Ukraine since April to September of this year, which appeared literally a couple of hours ago, this source of shelling is not directly named," Nebenzia said at a UN Security Council meeting, adding, "It is important to call things by their name."
In the same context, the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that the ongoing attacks on the ZNPP are unacceptable, stressing that all systems of the facility must be fully operational.
"Attacks that this facility has received and that I could personally see and assess together with my experts are simply unacceptable ... All safety and security systems and equipment should operate normally and unhindered and be fully functional," Grossi told the UN Security Council meeting.
On another level, Nebenzia denied allegations about Russia buying artillery shells and rockets from North Korea.
On Monday, the Energodar administration reported that a new strike by Kiev's forces hit the special building of Zaporozhye NPP, and a tank with distilled water in the immediate vicinity of the second power unit was also damaged.
Energodar and the Zaporozhye plant have been under Russian control since early March and had operated without interruption until July when drone and artillery assaults began. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, 29 strikes on the Zaporozhye complex have taken place since July 18, including 120 artillery shells and 16 kamikaze drones.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arrived on Thursday at the ZNPP to carry out basic measures to ensure physical and nuclear security and safeguards at the facility.
A team of 14 inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), headed to Zaporozhye — Europe’s largest nuclear power plant — as global concern grows over its safety in a war raging ever-closer to its six reactors.
On Friday, Ukraine said it had bombed a Russian base in the town of Energodar, near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) which was being assessed by United Nations inspectors due to safety concerns.
IAEA head Rafael Grossi said on Thursday the site had been damaged by the fighting in Ukraine.
Earlier today, the IAEA issued a report in light of the recent attacks launched by Kiev's forces on the ZNPP, in which it called for the immediate establishment of a protective zone at its premises and vicinities.
🚨 New IAEA report on the nuclear safety, security and safeguards situation in #Ukraine.
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg) September 6, 2022
Includes findings from our ongoing Support and Assistance Mission to #Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
📑 https://t.co/Qy45ajMcxE pic.twitter.com/BnrxBscYSS
