The attack on the official vehicle of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 10 December 2024 by a drone during the rotation of experts of the permanent monitoring mission at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP is another act of russian terror against representatives of the UN international organisation, as their work in Ukraine is aimed at reducing the risk of a nuclear accident in times of war and remains the main source of information on nuclear safety for IAEA member states, as opposed to the propaganda of the aggressor country.

"Fortunately, the insidious attack on the vehicle that was part of the convoy that ensured the next rotation of IAEA experts at the occupied ZNPP resulted in no casualties. However, this event is a vivid manifestation of russia's disregard for the international institution of which the aggressor country is still a member. This should be regarded as an attempt to intimidate the Agency's experts who perform an important mission both at Ukrainian NPPs and in an extended format - at energy infrastructure facilities that have an impact on NPP safety", Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov said.

He reminded that the IAEA permanent monitoring missions were initiated by the Ukrainian side at the invitation of the Government of Ukraine, and extended missions to assess the condition of energy infrastructure facilities important for the safe operation of nuclear power plants are carried out within the framework of the practical implementation of the agreements reached during the meeting of IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"We are interested in the presence of IAEA experts at all Ukrainian NPPs and in their work at power substations, which are important for the safety of nuclear power plants. After all, one of the main functions they perform is to record all those criminal consequences for nuclear and radiation safety that arise as a result of the full-scale military aggression of the russian federation against our country", SNRIU Chairman noted.

This incident, as well as the criminal actions of the russian federation against international humanitarian law, nuclear and energy safety, will be considered at an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors initiated by the Ukrainian side and to be held on 12 December 2024.