Balitsky calls disruption of IAEA experts' rotation at ZNPP a provocation by Kiev
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have staged a cynical provocation, disrupting the rotation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission staff at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP), but all the experts are now safe. This was reported by the Governor of Zaporizhzhya region Yevgeny Balitsky on February 12.
"A cynical provocation was arranged, but thanks to the protection and efforts of the military commandant's office of Zaporizhzhya region and Rosgvardia, all IAEA experts are safe," Balitsky said in a message in his Telegram channel.
He pointed out that Ukraine's representatives were behaving like terrorists. Balitsky expressed hope that IAEA experts were able to correctly assess whether the actions of the Ukrainian leadership were reasonable.
Earlier in the day, Balitsky said that the AFU launched a drone strike on a parking lot in the ZNPP satellite town of Energodar, which is located 300 meters from the plant's first reactor.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that with this attack, which disrupted the rotation of IAEA experts, Ukraine showed its terrorist nature and lack of commitment. Zakharova added that Russian servicemen, who were supposed to accompany a group of the agency's staff, waited unsuccessfully for the experts for several hours under the threat of shelling. After the IAEA workers failed to show up, the servicemen were recalled, and on their return their convoy was subjected to drone strikes and mortar fire.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized back on January 23 that the nuclear safety situation at ZNPP was not improving, and the agency's mission at the plant was far from complete.
Zaporizhzhya region, where the nuclear power plant is located, became part of the Russian Federation following a referendum in September 2022. Since then, Zaporizhzhya NPP has been under constant IAEA supervision.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
