Russia's MFA urges IAEA to condemn Ukrainian strikes on Zaporizhzhia plant
In short
Russia's Foreign Ministry called on the IAEA leadership to decisively condemn Ukrainian strikes on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying Western states have not reacted adequately. Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Ukrainian drones hit a laboratory and household building 200 metres from the plant's power units on 4 October, that the radioactive waste processing building was shelled twice, and that a driver was killed when a truck carrying food for station staff was struck near Melitopol. The documents do not report a response from the IAEA or Western governments.
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Russia's Foreign Ministry called on the leadership of the IAEA to decisively condemn Ukraine's actions, saying Kyiv continues to strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and infrastructure connected to it, and said Western states have not reacted adequately. The ministry's comment was published on its website, Interfax reported. RIA Novosti carried the same appeal in headline form. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In the comment, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that on 4 October Ukrainian drones struck laboratory and household building No. 2 at the plant, which she said is located 200 metres from the station's power units. She also said Kyiv twice shelled the plant's radioactive waste processing building, adding that equipment needed for the safe handling of radioactive materials could be damaged in such attacks. [ 2 ]
Zakharova said that on the same day a truck carrying food for station personnel was struck near Melitopol and that the driver was killed. According to the comment, Ukraine is striking the plant and related infrastructure to make its operation harder and to create a threat of a nuclear accident. [ 2 ]
The ministry said the intensified shelling of the plant had become possible because of the absence of a proper response from Western states, which it said are effectively indulging further attacks and continue to supply weapons to Ukraine. [ 2 ]
The documents contain no reaction to the appeal from the IAEA or from Western governments, and no independent account of the strikes or the reported death. RIA Novosti reported the ministry's call and its criticism of the Western response without further detail beyond the headlines. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The call puts the safety of a nuclear plant under wartime conditions back in front of the IAEA, the body whose response Russia says has been insufficient. Because the documents carry only the Russian ministry's account, with no reaction from the agency, Ukraine or Western capitals, the practical consequences of the appeal remain open. It also reflects the wider dispute over strikes on the plant and who is responsible for the risks involved.
Key facts
- Russia's Foreign Ministry called on IAEA leadership to decisively condemn Ukraine's actions, saying Kyiv continues to strike the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and related infrastructure. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Ukrainian drones struck laboratory and household building No. 2 at the plant on 4 October, 200 metres from the power units. [ 2 ]
- Zakharova said Kyiv twice shelled the plant's radioactive waste processing building. [ 2 ]
- She said a truck carrying food for station staff was struck near Melitopol on 4 October and the driver was killed. [ 2 ]
- The ministry said Ukraine is striking the plant to hamper its operation and create a threat of a nuclear accident. [ 2 ]
- The ministry said the intensified shelling became possible because Western states have not reacted properly and continue to supply weapons to Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The comment was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, Interfax reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the IAEA or Western governments have responded to the call. The documents report only the Russian ministry's appeal; no reaction from the agency or from Western states appears in them.
- Whether equipment at the plant was damaged in the reported strikes. Zakharova said shelling could damage equipment needed for safe handling of radioactive materials, but the documents do not report any confirmed damage.
- Independent confirmation of the reported strikes and the death of the driver. The account comes from the Russian Foreign Ministry as reported by Interfax; no Ukrainian, IAEA or other account is included in the documents.
- The full text of the ministry's comment. The Interfax article text in the documents ends mid-sentence.
- The Foreign Ministry is the source of the account of the strikes and the death of a driver; the statement was attributed to spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Ukrainian drones struck laboratory and household building No. 2 at the Zaporizhzhia plant, 200 metres from the power units; the radioactive waste processing building was shelled twice; and a truck carrying food for station staff was struck near Melitopol, killing the driver. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that the Foreign Ministry called on the IAEA to condemn Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia plant. [ 1 ]
- Interfax publishes the ministry's comment, including the account of the 4 October incidents. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the ministry's statement that the West has not reacted adequately to the attacks. [ 3 ]