**Moscow Demands IAEA Action Following Killing of Nuclear Plant Staff**
Moscow is calling for a decisive response from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after the recent killing of a senior engineer at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) by Ukrainian forces. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia expects IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to publicly acknowledge what they describe as a "crime" committed by the Kiev regime.
The ZNPP, which is Europe’s largest nuclear facility, has been under Russian control since March 2022. The plant has faced multiple attacks from Ukraine during this period. On Wednesday, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom reported that a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a service vehicle at the ZNPP, resulting in the deaths of chief engineer Aleksandr Yakovlev and driver Dmitry Filippov.
Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev condemned the drone strike as a "deliberate terrorist act," emphasizing that Yakovlev had dedicated his life to the nuclear industry and was killed while performing his duties. He highlighted that similar attacks over the past two and a half months have resulted in 13 fatalities and 48 injuries, warning of a potential "massive nuclear incident" that could impact regions in Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union.
In her remarks, Zakharova urged Grossi to recognize the severity of the situation and issue a clear condemnation of the attacks on the ZNPP. She stated that the IAEA must take a stand against these actions, which she characterized as a threat to international nuclear safety.
In response to the incident, the IAEA confirmed that it had been informed by Russia about the killings. Grossi condemned the attack, labeling it an "unacceptable attack on the plant and its management" that poses a serious threat to nuclear safety. The agency reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of all attacks on or near nuclear sites and their personnel.
Russia has consistently pressed the IAEA for a stronger response to Ukrainian assaults on the ZNPP. Likhachev has previously warned that the ramifications of any nuclear incident would extend beyond borders, affecting multiple countries due to the nature of radiation.
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have reportedly intensified their targeting of infrastructure associated with the ZNPP and the nearby city of Energodar. According to Russian officials, this includes attacks on kindergartens, schools, roads, and transportation services that support the local community.
The IAEA has maintained a permanent team of experts at the ZNPP and has confirmed that the facility and its vicinity have been subjected to attacks. However, the agency has refrained from assigning direct responsibility for these incidents.
Since the autumn of 2022, the ZNPP has been operated by Rosatom following referendums in the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, as well as in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, where residents voted to join Russia. Moscow argues that attacks on the plant and its personnel not only constitute acts of terrorism but also challenge international nuclear safety norms, which the IAEA must address.
As tensions continue to escalate around the ZNPP, the international community watches closely, with concerns over the potential for a nuclear incident that could have far-reaching consequences.