Russia once again disrupted the rotation of IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Russia is once again obstructing the rotation of IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP

Today, February 12, Russia is deliberately obstructing the rotation of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. This was stated by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgiy Tikhiy.

This Time, the occupiers used armed assault troops with white flags, placed in the crossing zone between the territories controlled by Ukraine and the temporarily occupied zone. The transition of IAEA representatives was supposed to take place here.

The spokesman claims that the scenario of disrupting rotations is repeating. First, the Russian side delays agreeing on the location and time of the rotation, then gives uncertain signals about readiness to guarantee safe passage, and an hour before the rotation begins, opens fire or starts hostilities in this area.

Then Russian assault troops appear with white flags and IAEA flags, while Moscow claims that everything is ready for the mission. These actions are repeated multiple times, but the security risks are increasing.

By staging such provocations, Russia is trying to force the IAEA to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to send international experts to the Zaporizhzhia NPP through temporarily occupied territories. Moscow is blackmailing the Agency by blocking the work of the mission. Russian pressure on the IAEA is unacceptable, and we demand that the international community stand up for the Agency against Russian blackmail,' the statement said.

Tikhiy emphasized that attempts by the Kremlin to force the IAEA to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine will not succeed. Ukraine will not allow Russia to use the Agency to legitimize the occupation and will not allow the independence of the IAEA to be undermined.

On February 5, the IAEA postponed the rotation of the mission at the Zaporizhzhia NPP due to a lack of security guarantees from Russia. At that time, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded that the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Russia is illegal and poses a serious threat of a nuclear incident.