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Russia to continue to protect Zaporozhye NPP from Kiev, its Western curators — statement

The Russian diplomats also expressed special gratitude to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who has visited Russia twelve times since March 2022, including four visits to the ZNPP at Russia's invitation

MOSCOW, March 13. /TASS/. Russia will continue to strengthen the safety of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and Energodar against the actions of Kiev and its Western curators, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"In these conditions we will continue to strengthen the safety of the ZNPP and Energodar and will not allow Kiev and its curators to violate it," the ministry said in a statement on the second anniversary of the ZNPP’s return to Russian jurisdiction.

The Russian diplomats pointed out that as soon as the ZNPP returned to Russia’s ‘nuclear family,’ Kiev began to threaten its security and effective functioning. It is not only carrying out provocations against the plant and its satellite city of Energodar, but also terrorizing the ZNPP’s personnel and their family members. "Since the plant is located in the immediate vicinity of the line of engagement, Russia invited experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretariat. The first group of experts arrived at the ZNPP on September 1, 2022. Their priority task is to prevent threats to the plant created by the Kiev regime," the ministry said.

The Russian diplomats also expressed special gratitude to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, who has visited Russia twelve times since March 2022, including four visits to the ZNPP at Russia's invitation.

"Russia is taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of the plant, the strengthening of its nuclear and physical safety in accordance with national legislation and the obligations it has undertaken arising from the specialized international legal instruments to which our country is a party," the statement said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that all resolutions, as well as statements by officials or international organizations "calling for the ‘return’ of the ZNPP to Ukraine or moves to put it under international control will be regarded as <…> an attempt to infringe on Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."

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