Zaporizhzhia: A new rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) monitoring mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has arrived at the facility via Russian territory, as stated by the plant’s Moscow-installed head. Yuri Chernichuk announced in a video statement on Telegram that the 27th rotation of the IAEA’s mission includes three inspectors who reached the plant with assistance from the Russian Defense Ministry, the National Guard, and the Interior Ministry. Chernichuk emphasized the significance of the route passing through Russian territory for the first time.
According to Anadolu Agency, the rotation followed intensive consultations in February, including an interagency meeting in Moscow between the IAEA chiefs and Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom. This development comes after weeks of delay, during which Russia and Ukraine accused each other of military actions aimed at disrupting the planned rotation of IAEA experts at the plant.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned the rotation of IAEA experts through Russian-controlled territories, attributing the situation to “Russian blackmail.” The ministry accused Russia of creating artificial obstacles for international organizations in Ukraine, forcing them to violate Ukrainian legislation and bilateral agreements, and ignoring UN General Assembly resolutions. Ukraine further stated that IAEA staff were being kept under unprecedented psychological pressure in a high-risk zone, viewing the IAEA’s action as a “humanitarian evacuation” rather than a rotation.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to the IAEA leadership, condemning the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while warning against future occurrences. It urged international organizations to resist conditions imposed by Russia and to maintain their authority, independence, and impartiality.
The IAEA has yet to respond to the statements from Russia and Ukraine. The situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, remains tense amid ongoing concerns of a potential nuclear disaster, with frequent accusations from both Moscow and Kyiv regarding attacks around the facility. Located 40 kilometers from the front line, Zaporizhzhia has been under Russian control since March 2022, with IAEA personnel present since September 2022.