Moscow's calls for objectivity are rejected by UN nuclear watchdog chief after Kursk plant visit.

• Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday that it is necessary to objectively indicate when a danger exists, without stoking hysteria. He emphasized that this is not about creating panic, but rather about acknowledging the existence of a threat.
• Russia urged the IAEA for more objectivity in its duties on Wednesday, and his comments followed.
• Since early August, Russia has been attempting to repel a cross-border incursion by Ukraine, during which Ukraine allegedly attempted a drone strike at the Kursk nuclear plant, according to Russia's accusations last week.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog's head has opposed Moscow's demand for greater impartiality after an inspection at the nuclear plant in the troubled Russian region of Kursk.

Since early August, Russia has been attempting to repel a cross-border incursion by Ukraine, which Moscow accused of attempting a drone strike at the Kursk nuclear plant last week.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted by CNBC for verification of the incident.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Thursday that it is necessary to objectively indicate when a danger exists, without stoking hysteria. He emphasized that this is not about creating panic, but rather about acknowledging the existence of a threat.

The Russian ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson correctly emphasizes the importance of objectivity. Indeed, we are being objective in stating that this nuclear power plant is within range of a potential artillery strike, which implies that the danger exists. Is this danger inherent to the technology? No, he said, adding that these facilities hold "strategic value" in military conflicts because they serve national energy infrastructure.

He remarked that while they are not mere pawns, they play a role in a larger conflict.

Russia urged the IAEA for more objectivity in its duties on Wednesday, and his comments followed.

According to Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian foreign ministry, we observe both the evaluations and the work of the IAEA, but each time we require a more objective and clear statement of this structure's stance, not favoring our country or confirming Moscow's position, but focusing on facts with a specific objective: ensuring security and preventing the development of a catastrophic scenario, which the Kiev regime is pushing everyone towards.

On Thursday, Grossi admitted that parties at war often maintain a "strategic ambiguity" in their military operations, which results in less transparency about their activities.

He stated that he comprehends the efforts to pull him, or us, the agency, into their preferred narrative, which must be avoided.

On Wednesday, Grossi led a group to examine the Kursk facility. During a subsequent press conference, he stated that the reactor's core, which contains nuclear material, is only protected by a standard roof. This makes it highly vulnerable to attacks such as artillery impact, drones, or missiles.

Grossi stated on Thursday that the Kursk nuclear plant has reactors of the Soviet RBMK-type, similar to those in the Chernobyl facility, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history in 1986.

The reinforced roof of this reactor design is missing, which means that in the event of an attack or unintentional impact, there is a possibility of radioactive material being released into the atmosphere.

He reported that the Kursk facility was functioning relatively normally, but observed signs of projectile and shrapnel impacts on the plant's perimeter, which could suggest past kinetic events.

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the risk of nuclear detonation due to nearby military activity has been a major concern, particularly with the subsequent occupation of the Ukrainian plant in Zaporizhzhia, which is Europe's largest nuclear power facility.

Since the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive on Russian territory, the number of nuclear concerns has increased, as Russia is the fifth-largest owner of nuclear reactors worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum.

At the beginning of the week, tensions between Moscow and Kyiv escalated, with Russia launching a massive attack using 236 drones and missiles on what the Ukrainian air force called "vital Ukrainian infrastructure."

Due to fluctuations in the national power grid resulting from Russia's attack, power unit 3 of the South Ukraine NPP was disconnected from the grid at 17:10 (EEST).

The Russian Federation is intentionally targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with the aim of disrupting the operation of the country's nuclear power plants, which provide most of Ukraine's electricity. This poses a significant risk to the stable operation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine and the safety of millions of people, according to the mission.

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond promptly to a CNBC inquiry for a comment.