On the margins of the 70th session of the IAEA General Conference, opened
on 14th of September in Vienna, head of the Russian delegation, Rosatom Director
General Mr. Alexey Likhachev had a meeting with IAEA Director General Mr.
Rafael Grossi. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Alexander Trembitsky, Head
of Rostekhnadzor, and Mr. Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of the
Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna.
The conversation was focused on ensuring nuclear safety and security of the Zaporozhskaya NPP (ZNPP), as well as the situation in Energodar.
Alexey Likhachev emphasized that since late April, there has been a sharp escalation of the situation at the plant and in its satellite city due to continuous attacks by armed forces of Ukraine. Over the past four and a half months Ukraine struck the ZNPP and Energodar over 750 times with drones and artillery. Kiev is conducting a systematic campaign against civilians and plant staff. Since the escalation began, 20 people have been killed, including 9 ZNPP employees, and over 100 people have been wounded.
Rosatom Director General drew the attention of the IAEA Director General to yet another crime committed by the Kiev regime – the recent attacks on fuel tankers delivering fuel to the ZNPP, which resulted in human casualties. As was particularly emphasized by Mr. Likhachev it was all about delivery of diesel fuel, which is vital to nuclear safety of the plant. Rafael Grossi is ready to explore options of the Agency to provide assistance in conducting such operations.
Echoing his own statement at the IAEA General Conference, Alexey Likhachev pointed out that in the current situation we expect the IAEA Secretariat to not only record the facts of the attacks but also identify those who bear responsibility for them.
Rafael Grossi, in his turn, has confirmed that he personally and the IAEA Secretariat remain committed to working together with Russia to ensure safety of the ZNPP and is ready to continue the dialogue on these issues.
The presence of a group of the IAEA staff for over four and a half years at the ZNPP site has also been discussed as a separate and important matter.
The parties have agreed to maintain close contact, including by phone.
