Russia is blackmailing IAEA to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity - Foreign Ministry
By blocking the work of the IAEA mission, Russia is trying to force the organization to violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and send international experts to the Zaporizhzhia NPP through the occupied territories.
This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi, Censor.NET reports.
"Today, on February 12, Russia has once again deliberately disrupted the rotation of IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The Kremlin is following its usual pattern of blackmail, threats and provocations. This time, the occupiers used armed stormtroopers with white flags deployed in the area where the line between the government-controlled territories and the temporarily occupied zone crosses. This is where the IAEA representatives were supposed to cross," the Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized.
It is noted that by organizing such provocations, Russia is trying to force the IAEA to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and send international experts to the ZNPP through the occupied territories. "At the same time, Moscow is blackmailing the Agency by completely blocking the work of the mission. Russian pressure on the IAEA is unacceptable, and we demand that the international community defend the Agency against Russian blackmail," the commentary reads.
It is noted that the scenario of disruption of rotations is similar every time. "First, the Russian side does not agree on the point and time of the rotation for a long time, then gives vague signals about its alleged readiness to guarantee safe passage, but an hour before the start of the rotation, it opens fire or starts hostilities in the area. After that, Russian attack aircraft show up with white flags and IAEA flags, and Moscow claims that "everything is ready" for the mission. This is not the first time such actions have been repeated, but the security risks are getting higher every time," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
According to Tykhyi, over the three years of occupation, Russia "has degraded ZNPP, turning Europe's largest nuclear power plant into a military base. This is part of a broader strategy of nuclear threats by the Russian Federation and its use of energy as a weapon. The presence of the IAEA prevents Russia from implementing this plan, so it is systematically putting pressure on the Agency, trying to undermine its authority and create conditions under which independent oversight will become impossible."
"The Kremlin's attempts to force the IAEA to violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity will not succeed. Ukraine will not allow Russia to use the Agency to legitimize the occupation and will not allow the IAEA's independence to be undermined. We call on the international community to firmly support the IAEA so that Russia finally realizes that its blackmail and threats will not work," the spokesman emphasized.
