The Foreign Ministry criticized the IAEA rotation due to the WHO.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the IAEA of violating the country's sovereignty due to Russian intimidation. Particular attention was given to the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, where Moscow held experts for 80 days without rotation, restricting their freedom of movement. The relevant statement was released by the Ministry's press service on Sunday, March 2.

Kyiv stated that Russia is deliberately blocking the safe exit of the mission through controlled territory, forcing the Agency to operate under its conditions.

"Russia is intentionally creating artificial obstacles to the activities of international organizations in Ukraine, compelling them to violate Ukrainian legislation, bilateral agreements with Ukraine, and to disregard the resolutions of the UN General Assembly," the statement said.

It is noted that Russia effectively forced IAEA personnel to remain at the plant without rotation for 80 days, significantly exceeding the planned duration, subjecting them to unprecedented psychological pressure in a high-risk zone. Moscow essentially deprived international experts of their freedom of movement and used them as a tool for political pressure on the international community.

Ukraine has already sent a note of protest to the IAEA leadership and will raise this issue at the Board of Governors meeting.

"We view the actions of the IAEA not as a rotation of experts at the NPP, but as a humanitarian evacuation in conditions threatening the life and health of the Agency's employees," the Ministry added.

The Ministry emphasized that international organizations must operate in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and international law, and that returning the NPP under Ukraine's control is the only path to real nuclear safety.

Ukraine urged international organizations to take a firm stance, reject the conditions imposed by Russia, and take measures to preserve their own authority, independence, and impartiality.

Recall that the IAEA conducted a rotation of its observers at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP for the first time without Ukraine's consent, accompanied by the Russian military.

Rumors about the likelihood of such developments emerged on February 28. At that time, Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak reported that the IAEA would carry out the rotation of its mission at the Zaporizhzhia NPP exclusively through the territory occupied by Russia—likely through Crimea.

"Without Ukraine's consent and contrary to EU warnings. A provocative move by R. Grossi, who aims to become the next UN Secretary-General," he wrote then.

The rotation of inspectors was supposed to occur a month ago, but it has been postponed twice. IAEA experts have been working at the Zaporizhzhia NPP since September 1, 2022.

As of now, neither the IAEA nor Ukraine has commented on this statement. It is also unclear whether this has been communicated to the Ukrainian side.

Ukraine called for the isolation of Russia in the nuclear sphere following the strike on Chernobyl