IAEA Chief Not Objective Over Ukraine Attack On Kursk N-Plant

Russia, on Wednesday, said that it wants the IAEA to take a clearer and more objective stance on nuclear safety. On Tuesday, IAEA head Rafael Grossi visited the Kursk nuclear plant, close to where Ukraine mounted an incursion in Russia.

Grossi visited the plant and warned of a serious nuclear accident. He inspected the damage from the done strike, which Russia blames on Ukraine. However, it has not said who was responsible for it.

Maria Zakharova said “we see both the assessments and the work of this structure (the IAEA), but each time we want a more objective and clearer expression of the position of this structure.” Zakharova is the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

“Not in favour of our country, not in favour of confirming Moscow’s position, but in favour of facts with one specific goal: ensuring safety and preventing the development of a scenario along a catastrophic path, to which the Kyiv regime is pushing everyone.”

Ukraine has not responded to Russia’s allegations that it attacked near the Kursk plant. The attack took place close to where Ukrainian forces attacked Russia by surprise on Aug 6. Conflict has been taking place about 40 km from the facility.

Grossi said that the plant was unlike most modern nuclear power stations. Its Soviet design lacks a containment dome to provide protection from drone or missile strikes.

Asked by a reporter at a news conference to condemn the drone damage as a “nuclear provocation” by Ukraine, Grossi replied: “Again, pointing fingers is something that I, as director general of the IAEA, must take extremely seriously. But it is obvious that you cannot separate what we have seen here from the recent military activity that we have seen.”

The IAEA has urged both sides throughout the 30-month war to refrain from fighting around nuclear plants in order to avoid a catastrophic incident.