Russian MFA: “By deliberately creating radiological threats in the heart of Europe, Kiev would apparently have no qualms about pressing its Western sponsors’ buttons to make them foot its bills”

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Photo: RIA Novosti

Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the death of a Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant employee:

The Kiev regime continues to show its brutal and criminal nature. On April 27, another reckless and criminal attack was carried out against a Russian civilian nuclear energy facility – the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) – tragically claiming the life of one of the plant’s employees.

We strongly condemn this atrocity. We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We commend the courage and resilience of the ZNPP personnel, who, despite deadly threats and provocations from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, continue to carry out their duty and maintain the safe operation of the plant, demonstrating the highest level of professionalism.

What makes Kiev’s actions particularly cynical is that they took place just days after the close of the Tenth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety. At that forum, the Russian delegation firmly defended its position on the unacceptability of attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities. We will continue this line at the NPT Review Conference opening today in New York.

Clearly, the Ukrainian side takes a different view, making it plain that it places no value on nuclear safety, nor on those who continue to “defend” and justify Vladimir Zelensky’s reckless nuclear gambles. By deliberately creating radiological threats in the heart of Europe, Kiev would apparently have no qualms about pressing its Western sponsors’ buttons to make them foot its bills. This tragedy is an example of where those investments are going.

We expect the IAEA Secretariat and the Agency’s Director General, Rafael Grossi, personally to take an uncompromising stance towards Ukraine’s lawless actions. We are convinced that the international community is obliged to hold the Kiev regime to account with the tough and deserved measures it requires, forcing it to stop its attacks on the ZNPP and other peaceful nuclear facilities.

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