ISTANBUL

 A new rotation of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) monitoring mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant arrived at the facility through Russian territory, the plant’s Moscow-installed head said.

A video statement by Yuri Chernichuk on Telegram late Saturday said the 27th rotation of the IAEA’s mission consists of three inspectors, who he said arrived at the plant with the efforts of the Russian Defense Ministry, the National Guard, and the Interior Ministry.

“It is fundamentally important that the route passed through the territory of the Russian Federation for the first time,” Chernichuk further said.

He went on to say that the rotation occurred after “intensive consultations” in February, which also included an interagency meeting in Moscow between the chiefs of the IAEA and Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom.

The move comes after weeks of delay, during which both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of military actions aiming to disrupt the planned rotation of IAEA experts at the plant.

In a statement Sunday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry condemned the rotation of IAEA experts through Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine, but indicated that the situation was the result of "Russian blackmail."

"Russia purposefully creates artificial obstacles to the activities of international organizations in Ukraine, forcing them to violate Ukrainian legislation, bilateral agreements with Ukraine, and also to disregard resolutions of the UN General Assembly," the statement said.

It further accused Russia of keeping IAEA staff at the facility "under unprecedented psychological pressure, in a zone of increased risks," stating that Kyiv considered the IAEA's actions as a "humanitarian evacuation" of its employees rather than a rotation.

"Ukraine has sent a note of protest to the IAEA leadership, condemning the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state and warning against any repetition of such actions in the future," it also said.

"Ukraine calls on international organizations to take a firm position, refuse to fulfill the conditions imposed by Russia and take measures to preserve their own authority, independence and impartiality," it added.

The IAEA has yet to comment on Russia and Ukraine's remarks.

The situation around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest and one of the world’s 10 biggest, particularly remains tense as concerns persist over a possible nuclear disaster between Moscow and Kyiv, both of which have frequently accused each other of attacks around the facility.

Zaporizhzhia is 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the front line with Moscow and has also been frequently hit by airstrikes amid the conflict in Ukraine.

Since Sept. 1, 2022, IAEA personnel have been present at the plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022.

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