Source: Yozvyak on social media platform X, RIA Novosti citing Rosatom
Yozvyak's direct quote: "What happened was something that seemed impossible just a few days ago. The IAEA deployed its personnel to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant via territory occupied by Russia without Ukrainian consent."
Details: On Friday, February 28, the journalist reported hearing that the IAEA would rotate its mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant exclusively through the occupied territory of Ukraine – likely through Crimea.
"Without Ukraine's consent and in defiance of EU warnings. A bold move by Rafael Grossi, who aims to become the next UN Secretary-General," the message stated.
At the same time, Rosatom reported on Saturday evening about the rotation of IAEA observers at the ZNPP, noting that the route for the rotation of observers was the first to pass "through the territory of the Russian Federation."
Background:
- On February 5, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Georgiy Tikhiy, announced that the IAEA was forced to postpone the rotation of its mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to a lack of security guarantees from Russia.
- On February 12, Tikhiy stated that Russia once again blocked the rotation of IAEA experts at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, resorting to its usual methods of blackmail, threats, and provocations. This time, the occupiers used armed stormtroopers with white flags, positioning them in the area between Ukrainian-controlled territory and the temporarily occupied zone.