Russian Foreign Ministry: international structures do not name Ukraine as responsible for strikes on the ZNPP

Statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that international structures, primarily the IAEA, are 'reacting rather reservedly to Kyiv's provocative antics' and have still not named Ukraine as the party responsible for strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. According to her, such 'spineless behavior could end in catastrophe.' The diplomat's comment was published on the ministry's website; Gazeta.Ru reported on it.

Arguments of the Russian side

Zakharova added that Russia 'on a constant basis' provides the world community, including at relevant international venues, with detailed information about the strikes and makes every effort to protect the ZNPP, its personnel, and the residents of Enerhodar.

Earlier statements and events

Earlier, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, stated that criticizing Kyiv is an 'absolute taboo' for the West: according to him, at Board of Governors sessions Western countries expressed no concern about Ukrainian troops intimidating ZNPP personnel and civilians. In addition, it was reported that specialists completed the repair of equipment at the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant.

Context and significance

All of the information cited comes from the Russian side — the Russian Foreign Ministry and its permanent representative in Vienna; the assessments presented have no independent confirmation in publications, nor is there any information about the IAEA's own position on these statements. The statements concern the safety of Europe's largest nuclear power plant and the residents of Enerhodar: if strikes on the facility continue, the question of protecting the plant and its personnel will remain on the international agenda, and the completed repair of equipment at the Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant directly affects the region's power supply.