Russia accuses Ukraine of attack on Russian-controlled nuclear site

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

RUSSIA CLAIMS UKRAINE ATTACKED EUROPE’S LARGEST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SUNDAY KILLING ONE PERSON AND INJURING SEVERAL OTHERS, A CHARGE UKRAINE DENIES, SUGGESTING THE INCIDENT WAS FABRICATED BY RUSSIA.

DMITRY PESKOV
SPOKESPERSON | KREMLIN
“This is a very dangerous provocation. IAEA staff who were on site were able to witness the attacks. This is a very dangerous practice that has very, very bad negative consequences in the long term. Unfortunately, the Kyiv regime continues its terrorist activity.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE U.N.’S INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY CONFIRMED THE STRIKES BUT DID NOT PLACE BLAME. THE IAEA’S DIRECTOR GENERAL CONDEMNED THE DRONE STRIKE, EMPHASIZING THAT ATTACKS ON NUCLEAR FACILITIES HAVE NO MILITARY OR POLITICAL BENEFITS, AND REASSURED THAT NUCLEAR SAFETY REMAINED INTACT DESPITE THE POTENTIAL RISKS, ADDING:

RAFAEL MARIANO GROSSI
DIRECTOR GENERAL | INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
“I firmly appeal to military decision makers to abstain from any action violating the basic principles that protect nuclear facilities.”

LAST MONTH, AN IAEA TEAM  REPORTED IT HEARD DAILY EXPLOSIONS FOR A WEEK AT THE PLANT BUT THIS IS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL ATTACK SINCE RUSSIA INVADED IN 2022.

RUSSIA’S STATE RUN NUCLEAR AGENCY SAYS THE REACTOR’S CONTAINMENT STRUCTURES ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF A SMALL PLANE CRASH — ADDING THERE IS LITTLE RISK FROM MINOR ATTACKS ON THE STRUCTURES.