IAEA chief denounces death of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant engineer PHOTO

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has condemned the killing of Alexander Yakovlev, chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), in what Russia said was a Ukrainian drone strike.

In a statement posted by the IAEA on X, Grossi described the incident as an unacceptable attack on a nuclear facility and its leadership, Caliber.Az reports.

“IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi condemns the reported incident which he says represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously threatening nuclear safety,” the statement said.

The IAEA has been informed by the Russian Federation that the ZNPP chief engineer was killed in a drone strike near the site today.
DG @rafaelmgrossi condemns the reported incident which he says represents an unacceptable attack on the plant and its management, seriously… pic.twitter.com/kH5GVMRpwk

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) July 15, 2026

Grossi also called for an immediate halt to attacks targeting nuclear facilities and their staff, stressing the need to safeguard nuclear safety and security.

Earlier, Russia’s Rosatom informed the IAEA that Yakovlev was killed in a drone strike near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

By Jeyhun Aghazada