Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv says Russia trying to sabotage IAEA inspection of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russia’s war on Ukraine has escalated into fighting in the area of the nuclear facility in Zaporizhzhia. As inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog arrive in Ukraine, Kyiv accused Russia of trying to sabotage the inspection by shelling the area.

Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Russia is trying to sabotage the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility. Yermak added that Russia has shelled the area again during the visit.

“The Russians have shelled Enerhodar and the territory of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant,” Yermak said on the Telegram messaging platform. Yermak went on to accuse Russia of acting like a “terrorist state.”

“It is Russia that is responsible for everything happening at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and in Enerhodar,” said Yermak on the messaging platform. “They want to wreck the IAEA mission’s visit.”

The nuclear facility was occupied by Russian forces back in March, but is still connected to Ukraine’s electricity grid and operated by employees of Ukraine’s state nuclear firm Energoatom. The facility has come under shelling in recent months, with Russia and Ukraine trading accusations.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter that Russian forces were conducting “demonstrative strikes” in Enerhodar to frame Ukraine. Podolyak added that this was an indication of Moscow’s real motives in the inspection.

The UN mission was to assess potential risks from the ongoing conflict in the area. The organization has previously called for the nuclear facility to be a demilitarized zone.

The United States Justice Department announced Wednesday that it has obtained a warrant to seize a $45 million aircraft owned by the Russian energy company PJSC Lukoil. The aircraft is believed to be in Russia at the moment. The warrant was granted by the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The Boeing 737-7EM aircraft flew in and out of Russia, violating the US Commerce Department’s sanctions. The aircraft last flew into the United States in 2019.

Lukoil has been subject to sanctions by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control since 2014. The US recently imposed export controls and license requirements sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February.