The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has condemned the rotation of IAEA experts at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) via Russian-occupied territory, calling it a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to Ukrinform, this statement was published on the ministry’s official website.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by a number of IAEA employees as a result of Russian blackmail and systemic attempts to impose illegal and contradictory operational mechanisms on international organizations in temporarily occupied territories,” the statement reads.
The ministry emphasized that Russia deliberately creates artificial obstacles to the activities of international organizations in Ukraine, forcing them to violate Ukrainian law, bilateral agreements with Ukraine, and ignore UN General Assembly resolutions.
Ukraine’s MFA stated that Russia effectively forced IAEA employees to remain at ZNPP for 80 days, far exceeding the planned rotation period, subjecting them to unprecedented psychological pressure in a high-risk zone. The statement added that Moscow deprived international experts of freedom of movement and used them as a political tool to pressure the international community.
The MFA stressed that Ukraine repeatedly offered a safe and legal rotation route through government-controlled territory. However, Russia systematically refused to provide IAEA with security guarantees under these conditions.
“The Kremlin deliberately blocked the safe exit of specialists via Ukrainian-controlled territory, forcing the agency to accept Russia’s terms. We do not consider this as an IAEA staff rotation but rather a humanitarian evacuation under life-threatening conditions,” the statement continued.
Ukraine has sent an official protest note to IAEA leadership, condemning the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and warning against any similar actions in the future. Additionally, Ukraine will raise the issue of “Russia’s unprecedented blackmail” at an upcoming IAEA Board of Governors meeting.
“Only by ending Russia’s nuclear blackmail and returning ZNPP under the control of its rightful owner – Ukraine can real monitoring by IAEA be ensured and nuclear safety in Europe guaranteed,” the MFA emphasized.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also insisted that the activities of international organizations in Ukraine, especially during Russia’s war of aggression, must strictly comply with Ukrainian legislation, international law, and UN principles.
As reported by Radio Free Europe journalist Ricard Jozwiak on social media platform X, the IAEA deployed its personnel to ZNPP via Russian-occupied territory without Ukraine’s approval.
Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov
Source: IAEA rotates staff at Zaporizhzhia NPP via Russian-occupied territory – Ukraine sends protest note
