Moscow rebukes UN nuclear chief

The Russian Foreign Ministry has rebuked the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, over his recent remarks about the UN watchdog’s mission at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

Grossi told the dpa news agency on Wednesday that the IAEA’s permanent mission at the Zaporozhye plant will stay put until a potential freezing of the conflict.

The Zaporozhye NPP, the largest of its type in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022. In the fall of 2022, Zaporozhye Region officially joined Russia together with Kherson Region and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

Throughout the conflict, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the facility, and the Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that several attempts by Ukrainian assault units to retake it have been repelled.

The IAEA has had a permanent mission at the location since September 2022, to monitor nuclear safety and security.

“We will continue to be there until the conflict comes to a new phase, at least less combat and maybe a ceasefire – no, a frozen conflict, whatever phase we enter into, but without this looming threat,” Grossi told the dpa.

The statements made by the IAEA director general are “unacceptable,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

“It is completely inexplicable on what basis the IAEA leadership is taking it upon itself to judge the prospects of the notorious ‘freeze,’ which is clearly beyond its authority,” the ministry said on Telegram.

The idea that the IAEA can determine the conditions for its experts to stay at the facility at its own discretion is “outrageous,” the statement said.

“This is absolutely not the case,” the ministry stressed, recalling that the watchdog’s experts are present at the Russian facility as a result of a personal request by Grossi himself, and only with the consent of the Russian government and “strictly as long as our country considers their stay there justified.” 

The ministry’s statement also accused Kiev of launching massive artillery shelling and drone strikes on the city of Energodar on Wednesday, where the nuclear plant’s employees live. The strikes led to civilian casualties, it said.

The Russian ministry said it expects the IAEA head “to present the situation accurately going forward” and urged Grossi “not go beyond the scope of his competence.”