"As always, logic is lacking": MFA reveals the goal of new Russian accusations regarding the ZNPP
Kyiv • UNN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine rejected Russia's accusations regarding attacks on the ZNPP. Kyiv calls on the IAEA not to grant Russia a seat on the agency's Board of Governors.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly rejects the latest groundless accusations by the Russian Federation regarding a supposed "Ukrainian attack" on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), spread on May 30 by representatives of the Russian state corporation "Rosatom." This is stated in a message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNN reports.
Details
The Ministry regards these statements as another information operation by the occupying state, aimed at distracting the international community's attention from the only real source of nuclear danger at the Zaporizhzhia NPP — the illegal Russian occupation of the plant.
Russian accusations, as always, lack logic: it is unclear for what purpose Ukraine would strike its own nuclear power plant, located on its own territory, which it seeks to return to its sovereign control. Russian propaganda is trying again and again to promote an absurd construct: the state defending its territory supposedly attacks its own nuclear facilities, while the state that occupied them acts as their "protector." The very fact of the need to repeat this thesis already testifies to its failure
IAEA reports new risks at ZNPP due to drones and power supply issues22.05.26, 16:09 • 2470 views
They point out that for years the Russian Federation has refused to provide full and unhindered access for international experts to all areas of the Zaporizhzhia NPP — in particular, throughout the entire stay of the IAEA mission at the plant, international experts have not been granted access to the western parts of the turbine halls of the power units. The Russian side has also systematically restricted access to other facilities and premises of the plant under various pretexts.
A state that does not allow international inspectors to certain areas of an occupied nuclear facility today demands that the world trust its own reports about events at that same facility
They draw the attention of IAEA member states to an obvious pattern: practically before every meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, the Russian Federation launches a new wave of information manipulation around the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
"The current provocation is taking place on the eve of the June session of the IAEA Board of Governors. ... Ukraine calls on the 34 members of the IAEA Board of Governors to give a principled response to the actions of the Russian Federation not only in statements but also in decisions. We urge the members of the Board at their June session not to support granting the Russian Federation a seat on the IAEA Board of Governors," the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded.
Context
On May 28, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant experienced the longest communication failure since the beginning of the full-scale war. This was stated by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
Earlier, the Defense Forces of Ukraine refuted Russian claims of an alleged strike on the sixth power unit of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
In turn, the IAEA demands access to the turbine hall of power unit No. 6 of the ZNPP after damage by a Russian drone.