Grossi: Drone Attacks on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Must Stop

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the agency's Board of Governors on Thursday, April 23, that drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, which is under Russian control, have "dangerous consequences" in the Ukraine war and must be stopped. In a statement addressing an emergency session of the board called by Russia and Ukraine, he said, "Recent attacks... have brought us to a tipping point with dangerous consequences in this war," adding that he wants to ensure these attacks do not lead to the opening of a new and highly dangerous front. He urged the Board of Governors to support the agency's supervisory role unanimously to prevent any incidents at the plant, including ensuring that no attacks occur. Since no draft resolution has been presented to the board, the agency's actions will likely be limited to exchanging statements by countries meeting behind closed doors in Vienna. Grossi told the 35 member countries of the Board of Governors, "I will meet with the UN Security Council next week because we must ensure that these reckless attacks do not mark the beginning of a new and very dangerous front in the war." Without blaming either side for the attacks, he emphasized, "The attacks must stop." According to Reuters, Russia announced on Tuesday, April 21, that Ukraine had attacked the plant with drones for the third consecutive day. Kyiv claims it has no connection to these attacks and that they are the work of Russia. The IAEA had previously stated that on Sunday, April 19, a drone hit one of the reactors at the nuclear plant, which has been occupied by Russia since the war. Rafael Grossi, who has repeatedly warned about the safety of the plant since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, described the attacks on April 20 as "serious" and said they "must not be repeated." Since the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was occupied by Russia in the first weeks of the invasion on February 24, 2022, Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of targeting the plant. Grossi traveled to Russia in mid-March to discuss the situation of the Zaporizhzhia plant and the need for its security. Drone attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant; the Board of Governors of the agency holds an emergency meeting. Moscow: Ukraine attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant; Kyiv: It is Russia's doing. The Ukrainian parliament passed a bill to increase the number of military personnel. Widespread Russian attacks on fuel and energy centers in Ukraine; a power plant in Kyiv was targeted. Deadly Russian attacks on Odesa and Kharkiv; Ukraine says seven people were killed. The U.S. blacklisted several Chinese and Russian entities due to their connections with the drone program of the Islamic Republic.