June 13, 2025 —The Russian delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Thursday reaffirmed Moscow’s claim that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is situated on Russian territory, as discussions continued on nuclear safety, security, and safeguards in Ukraine.Addressing Agenda Item 7 of the session, titled “Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine,” the Russian delegation stated:“We remind again that Zaporozhskaya NPP is located on Russian territory.”The remark underscores Russia’s ongoing assertion of sovereignty over the plant, which has remained under Russian military control since early in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and its Western allies continue to condemn the occupation of the plant, warning that Russian control jeopardizes nuclear safety and contravenes international law.The status of the ZNPP remains one of the most sensitive issues in the conflict. Repeated shelling and disruptions around the facility — Europe’s largest nuclear power plant — have drawn sharp concern from the IAEA and the broader international community.IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has consistently called for restraint and the establishment of a safety and security protection zone around the plant. The agency maintains a permanent presence at the site and continues to monitor conditions closely.Ukraine’s delegation to the IAEA strongly rejected the Russian claim during Thursday’s session, reaffirming that the plant is Ukrainian property under international law, located within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.Diplomatic sources said discussions on the ZNPP and broader nuclear safety in Ukraine remain contentious, with deep divisions among IAEA member states over Russia’s actions.
