It is regrettable that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not identified the culprit behind the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shelling - RT quoted Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, as saying on September 6.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi personally led a team of inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - currently under Russian control - last week, and witnessed an artillery attack.
However, the IAEA report on the visit - released earlier on September 6 - did not mention who had set fire to the plant, although the Ukrainian General Staff publicly acknowledged the target of the nearby city of Energodar.
I cannot give that information, Grossi told CNN. We dont have the means to do this. It is necessary to observe and monitor military activities in the region and its entire wide range, but that is not only outside the responsibility of IAEA but also requires great capabilities."
IAEA only called for an end to all military activities around the plant and affirmed that shelling in the area must stop.
Any military activity such as artillery shelling inside or near a nuclear facility is likely to cause unacceptable radiological consequences. IAEA recommends immediately stopping on-site and nearby shelling to avoid further damage to the plant and related facilities, for the safety of operators and maintaining physical integrity to support safe and secure operations, the IAEA report said, adding that this would require agreement from all parties involved in the establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection area around the plant.
Ambassador Nebenzia said the IAEA's reluctance was regrettable. He also noted that Kiev had made a "monsterish trying" to seize the power plant during the IAEA delegation's visit.
Grossis proposal to de-militarize Zaporizhzhia is not serious - Ambassador Nebenzia told reporters in New York, explaining that the Russian military is providing security for the plant and that withdrawing would allow Ukraine to occupy it.
Zaporizhzhia is not Militarized anyways, the Russian special missionary to the United Nations stated, adding that there are no artillery, only trucks used to transport guards to protect the base. The IAEA report also mentioned this issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres called on both Kiev and Moscow to not participate in military operations inside and around the nuclear power plant.
Meanwhile, Mr. Grossi said he did not call for "de Militarization" but "more modesty", calling it "nuclear security and safety protection zone", and called for "commitment from all parties to avoid it for the purpose and avoid any shelling of the plant".
Zaporizhzhia is Europe's largest nuclear power plant. The plant, along with the nearby city of Energodar, has been under Russian control since March. However, attacks by artillery, drones and missiles began in July, damaging cooling systems, power lines and other facilities.
The Russian military has named Ukrainian artillery units that carried out the attacks and provided their locations to the United Nations. Meanwhile, Kiev accused Moscow of using the plant as a facility for the production of artillery and heavy equipment, but denied responsibility for the shelling, calling it a staged act by Russia to make Ukraine's image worse.
However, last week, the Ukrainian General Staff admitted to targeting Energodar and claiming that all of Russia's "military equipment" had been removed from the plant ahead of IAEA's visit. Meanwhile, the inspectors said they had observed Russian soldiers, vehicles and equipment in various places at the plant to ensure security.
IAEA disdained its mission and ignored the Ukrainian shelling, even after presenting full evidence, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Zaporizhzhia military-civilian government, told RIA Novosti.
