The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this Wednesday the death of the chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, A. A. Yakovlev, as a result of an alleged "selective drone attack" carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the atomic complex, located in Ukrainian territory 'de jure' but under the effective control of Moscow.
"On July 15, Ukraine committed another atrocious crime. A selective drone attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against a service vehicle of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant tragically ended the life of the plant's chief engineer, A.A. Yakovlev," the ministry assured in a statement.
In addition to Yakovlev, "whose professional activities were directly related to ensuring the nuclear and physical safety of this plant, a frequent target of attacks and provocations by Ukraine," the Ministry pointed out that, due to the impact against the vehicle in which he was traveling, "the driver also died in the attack."
After expressing its "deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims," Moscow condemned what it considers a "criminal act by Kyiv" which, in its opinion, "constitutes a new attempt to threaten the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and intimidate its employees."
In this context, the Foreign Ministry warned that the presence of Ukrainian units in the vicinity of the plant implies an "extreme danger" which, after this latest incident, is "more evident than ever."
In parallel, it has described as "cynical" the criticisms directed against the Russian Federation "for not deploying the necessary security forces at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, including those mentioned in the relevant reports of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Rafael Grossi. "Our country will continue to be guided by the objectives of protecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from Ukrainian attacks, in accordance with its legislation and its international obligations," it concluded.
In its statement, Russian diplomacy added that "the Nazi-Bandera regime (referring to the far-right ultranationalist Stepan Bandera) deceives itself by believing it can pressure our country, while blackmailing its Western masters, demanding more and more money and weapons," while accusing "Western countries" of being "willing to encourage Bankova (a street in Kyiv that houses the headquarters of the Ukrainian Presidency), regardless of the madness of its actions, thus becoming accomplices in the crimes of the Kyiv junta."
On the other hand, the IAEA indicated on its networks that it has been notified by Russia about the death of the plant's chief engineer in a Ukrainian attack, an event that the agency's director general "condemns" and which "represents an unacceptable attack against the plant and its administration, seriously threatening nuclear safety."
"The IAEA demands the immediate cessation of all attacks against nuclear facilities or in their vicinity, as well as against their personnel," Grossi declared in the message disseminated by the United Nations nuclear agency.
This incident denounced by Moscow occurs just three days after at least four people lost their lives and four others were injured by the impact of a Ukrainian drone in the city of Energodar, located next to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and also under Russian control.