Overview

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rotated its staff at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) through Russian-controlled territory for the first time, citing security concerns.
• Ukraine's Foreign Ministry criticized the move, labeling it a breach of Ukrainian sovereignty and international law, and sent a formal protest to the IAEA leadership.
• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi defended the decision, stating it was an extraordinary exception made to ensure the safety of agency personnel amid heightened risks in the region.
• Kyiv has repeatedly proposed safe and legal rotation routes through Ukrainian-controlled areas, but Russia has refused to provide security guarantees for such alternatives.
• The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has remained under Russian occupation since early in the war, with ongoing safety concerns and significant operational challenges reported by the IAEA.