An IAEA vehicle after a Russian drone strike.Photo: open source.
Russian aggression creates new threats to nuclear safety in Ukraine and Europe.
On 10 December, an unidentified drone attacked an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) vehicle that was participating in a staff rotation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. As a result of the attack, the vehicle was seriously damaged, but the agency’s employees were not injured. This information was published by the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Radio svoboda.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi strongly condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable”. He stressed that attacks on experts working to prevent a nuclear catastrophe threaten not only Ukraine but the entire international community.
Zaporizhzhya NPP: hostage to Russian occupation
Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and it has been under threat since the beginning of the Russian invasion. In March 2022, Russian troops occupied the city of Enerhodar and the territory of ZNPP, turning the plant into a base for storing military equipment and deploying personnel.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that the occupiers are using the strategic facility as an instrument of nuclear blackmail. The systematic shelling in the area of the plant, which Russia is trying to blame on Ukraine, is part of a destabilisation campaign.
Why is this important for the world?
The attack on the IAEA vehicle demonstrates how Russian aggression not only violates international norms but also threatens global nuclear safety. Ukraine, as a country suffering from war, simultaneously bears the burden of responsibility for the nuclear safety of Europe.
The IAEA Director General called on the parties to the conflict to provide conditions for the work of the agency’s experts. However, without a clear position of the international community and tougher sanctions against the aggressor, the risks will remain high.
Ukraine holds the line
The Ukrainian authorities are not only fighting for their territories, but are also doing everything possible to protect such strategically important facilities as the Zaporizhzhya NPP. Our country consistently cooperates with the IAEA, demonstrating transparency and readiness for international dialogue.
Today, supporting Ukraine is not only a moral obligation of democratic countries, but also a contribution to global security. Every day of Ukrainian resistance is another step towards a stable and secure future for the whole world.
The Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia NPP is a threat that cannot be ignored. The international community must increase pressure on the aggressor to ensure the safe operation of the plant and stop the blackmail that has become part of Russia’s strategy.
