Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately obstructing the rotation of IAEA mission personnel at the Zaporizhzhia NPP occupied by Russian forces, Reuters and BTA reported.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy said Russia had again used the same tactics as in the past. “Russia is giving vague signals about its alleged readiness to ensure safe passage, but an hour before the rotation begins, shooting or hostile actions begin in the area,“ he stressed.
There has been no comment from Moscow so far. Earlier, the Russian-appointed governor of the occupied Zaporizhia region accused Ukraine of using drones to attack the town of Energodar, located near the nuclear power plant.
Last week, Ukraine said the IAEA had been forced to postpone the rotation due to a lack of security guarantees from Russia. Moscow has denied this claim, Reuters recalls.
Russian forces seized the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The IAEA deployed personnel to the site in September of that year.