VIENNA, October 22. /TASS/. Western countries have been very selective in complying with the seven pillars of nuclear safety, specified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in March 2022, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said.

"A few days after Russia took the Zaporozhye NPP under its control, [IAEA Director General Rafael] Grossi outlined the seven pillars of nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict. Probably, it was relevant at the moment, because active hostilities were indeed taking place in the vicinity of the nuclear facility," he told an international video conference at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) about Ukraine’s attempts to terrorize the Zaporozhye Region.

"We take a detached view of these seven pillars, although, in general, they are professionally formulated. The problem is that Western countries comply with these pillars very selectively," the Russian diplomat added.

Ulyanov went on to say that the third pillar stipulates that, amid an ongoing armed conflict, staff of nuclear facilities should be allowed to work and make decisions free from undue pressure.