Russia, Ukraine exchange accusations over drone attack on IAEA convoy

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations over an attack on a convoy of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that was heading to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

“On a road in the Zaporizhzhia region — the region where Russia continues to hold a nuclear power plant hostage — a Russian FPV (first-person view) drone attacked an @iaeaorg convoy tasked with ensuring nuclear safety worldwide,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X late Tuesday.

Expressing that the Russian drone attack targeted a vehicle of the IAEA convoy, Zelenskyy said there were no casualties as a result.

He further claimed that Russia could not have been unaware of their target, accusing Moscow of knowing “exactly what they were doing” and of acting “deliberately.”

“This attack demands a clear and decisive response, both from the IAEA and from other international partners. Silence or inaction will only embolden further violations,” the Ukrainian president added.

The attack was condemned by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who said in a video statement on Tuesday that he previously defined attacks on a nuclear power plant as a "no go."

"Attacking those who care for the nuclear safety and security of these plants is also absolutely unacceptable," he was also quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement accused Kyiv of the attack on the convoy, claiming that Ukrainian forces also attacked the Russian motorcade returning from transferring the IAEA personnel to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

"We share the indignation of the agency's (IAEA) leadership in connection with these provocative and reckless actions of the Kyiv regime, which not only continues to commit crimes by creating threats and carrying out attacks on Russian nuclear facilities, but also decided to put the employees of the international organization, as well as Russian military personnel ensuring the rotation, in mortal danger," it said.

Russia went on to call on the US, UK, and its allies to stop its support of the Ukrainian government and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.

Since Sept. 1, 2022, IAEA personnel have been present at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest and one of the world’s 10 biggest, which has been under Russian control since March 2022.

Concerns persist over a possible nuclear disaster between Moscow and Kyiv, both of which have frequently accused each other of attacks around the facility.