Russia, IAEA Hold Fresh Talks on Zaporizhzhia Plant Safety Amid Renewed Attacks

Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have engaged in another round of high-level discussions concerning the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Moscow has accused Ukraine of escalating attacks around the facility and is pressing the UN nuclear watchdog to issue public condemnations. The 13th round of consultations, held in Kaliningrad on July 10, 2026, was co-led by ROSATOM Director General Alexey Likhachev and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. The Russian delegation included representatives from its nuclear regulator, the Foreign Ministry, military protection troops, the National Guard, and its Vienna mission. ROSATOM stated that the talks focused on nuclear safety at the ZNPP, Europe's largest nuclear facility, which has been a focal point of the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Russian forces occupied it in 2022. Likhachev claimed that attacks in the vicinity of the plant, the city of Energodar, and surrounding areas have increased since late April. He alleged that Ukrainian forces are increasingly targeting the area and intimidating plant workers, reporting seven deaths, including one plant employee, and 40 injuries. The ROSATOM chief urged the IAEA to publicly assess these alleged attacks, suggesting that a lack of international condemnation might embolden further actions that jeopardize nuclear safety. Further discussions addressed the restoration of electricity supply to the plant after repairs to the high-voltage Dneprovskaya transmission line. Russia stated that its Ministry of Defence, Rosgvardia, Rosseti specialists, and plant personnel conducted significant repair work, but the line remained un-energized from the Ukrainian-controlled side. The ongoing deployment and rotation of IAEA experts at the ZNPP, along with improving reporting on conditions at the plant and in Energodar, were also key topics. Both sides affirmed the importance of maintaining regular dialogue on the nuclear station's safety and security.

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In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin meets with representatives of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026.