According to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, Moscow expects the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to clearly assess the situation at the Kursk Nuclear power plant.
Zakharova’s statement follows a visit to the plant by IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi.
Grossi arrived in the Russian town of Kurchatov on August 27 to inspect the Kursk nuclear power plant.
During his visit, he had a chance to see the traces of drone strikes on the facility, as well as drone debris.
The agency’s chief later described the situation as serious and called for the prevention of a nuclear disaster.
He stressed that attacks on any nuclear power plant are unacceptable.
It is said that Russian security services are taking all security measures to protect the Kursk nuclear power plant.
Also, Zakharova stated that Russia wants the International Atomic Energy Agency to take a “more objective and clearer” stance on nuclear safety.
“We can see how the agency works and what assessments it makes but every time, we wish it would take a clearer stance; not necessarily in Russia’s favor or in favor of Moscow’s position but in favor of the facts, with the only goal being to ensure security and prevent a disaster scenario, which is where the Kiev regime is pushing everyone.”
Maria Zakharova
The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman noted that it was a systemic issue because the collective West was seeking “to silence” those working for such international organizations, “preventing them from telling the truth and confirming the facts.”
According to Zakharova, “it’s not just about this particular field and the current time period; it started gradually but on a systematic basis.”
Ukraine has not responded to Russian accusations that it attacked the plant in the Kursk region, close to where its forces launched a surprise incursion on August 6, 2024, that Russia is still trying to repel.
Fighting has been taking place about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the facility.
IAEA Board To Discuss Situation At Kursk And Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants
Meanwhile, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, disclosed that the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to discuss the situation at the Kursk and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants at a regular meeting on September 9, 2024.
“It is too early to discuss the consequences for the Ukrainian side over these attacks,” Ulyanov said.
“Western countries turn a blind eye to any Ukrainian attacks on nuclear facilities, and they try to avoid handling this issue,” the Russian diplomat added.
While Russia is not planning to convene an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to discuss the recent attacks targeting the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, Ulyanov said that “things may change depending on how the situation evolves.”
Ulyanov asserted that Russia also hopes that IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi “will make the signal about the inadmissibility of attacks on nuclear facilities clear” to Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
READ ALSO: GSE Trading Volume Doubles, Market Capitalization Rises as Atlantic Lithium Shines
