Foreign Ministry Statement on preparing an IAEA international mission to Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

On June 3, Russia and the IAEA Secretariat reached agreement on the itinerary and timetable for the visit by the Agency’s international mission to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi planned to head the mission, which also included prominent experts from several countries.

Working closely with the Agency, we have succeeded in surmounting all the challenges related to preparing and holding this event considering the complexity of the current environment. However, the Department of Safety and Security within the UN Secretariat switched on the red light at the very last moment, and the Kiev authorities jumped on this opportunity by stepping up their provocations and shelling the nuclear power station.

We hope that in the current situation the UN Secretary-General awakes to the responsibility that rests upon him and refrains from creating obstacles for the IAEA mission through a department within the Secretariat which reports to him.

For our part, we stand ready to do everything we can to resolve any organisational matters that may arise.