Russia says IAEA mission arrives at nuclear plant in Ukraine through Russia

2/3/2025 11:43

A new monitoring mission from the U.N. nuclear watchdog arrived on Saturday at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine for the first time through Russian territory, a Russia-installed head of the plant said.



The IAEA rotation came after weeks of delay caused by military activity around the site with each side blaming the other for violating rules to ensure the team's safe passage to the plant.



Yuri Chernichuk, the Russia-installed head of the Zaporizhzhia plant in southeastern Ukraine, said in a video on Telegram, "It is fundamentally important that the route passed through the territory of the Russian Federation for the first time."



The arrival of three inspectors, he added, was ensured by Russia's defence ministry and national guard and followed "intense" consultations between the heads of Russia's state nuclear power company Rosatom and IAEA.