The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been forced to cancel a planned staff rotation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, a facility caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed deep regret over the decision, citing unacceptable risks to the safety of his team. “It is completely unacceptable that the safety of our staff is jeopardized in this way,” he stated, emphasizing the crucial role the IAEA plays in preventing a nuclear accident amidst the challenging circumstances.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, a six-unit facility, has been under russian military control since early March 2022. IAEA experts have been stationed there since September 2022, working tirelessly to maintain nuclear safety and security. These teams, typically spending just over a month at the plant, conduct regular inspections and monitor adherence to UN-backed principles designed to protect the facility. These principles include refraining from military fire at or from the plant, and prohibiting its use as a base for heavy military equipment. The experts’ journey to and from the plant requires them to cross the active frontline, a precarious undertaking in itself.
The cancelled rotation underscores the volatile situation surrounding the plant. Russian media has circulated a video, purportedly from the russian defence ministry, depicting an explosion near a road used by a convoy that included IAEA personnel. Russia has accused Ukraine of the attack, while Ukraine has countered, blaming Russia for the incident. Ukraine claims that Russia’s actions are part of a strategy to coerce the IAEA into compromising Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to legitimize the occupation by forcing the IAEA to access the plant through Russian-controlled territory.
The IAEA, however, maintains a neutral stance, refraining from assigning blame to either side. As Director Grossi explained at a UN press conference last April, the IAEA’s role is not to engage in political speculation. “We are not commentators. We are not political speculators or analysts, we are an international agency of inspectors,” he emphasized. He further clarified that accusations require irrefutable evidence, something that is simply impossible to obtain in the current environment. Grossi is currently in active consultation with both sides to ensure the safety of IAEA teams and secure their continued presence at the Zaporizhzhia plant, enabling them to continue their vital mission.
