70th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency - EU Statement on agenda item: 21 Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine
President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.
More than four years ago, Russia launched its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in clear violation of the UN Charter. Russia’s continued military attacks gravely endanger nuclear and radiation safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine and pose serious risks for the wider region.
We commend Director General Grossi and the Agency’s experts for their determination and courage in maintaining a presence at Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), despite challenging and dangerous conditions, including brokering ceasefires to allow repairs on essential power lines to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and their unprecedented presence at the demining works. Their monitoring work remains essential to keeping the international community informed about nuclear safety, security, and safeguards in Ukraine, as well as delivering the necessary assistance. We highly praise their professionalism, dedication and courage. It is of utmost importance that Agency personnel are never exposed to unnecessary risks. Their safety and security remains paramount.
We also thank the Agency for continuing to implement safeguards under Ukraine’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.
We reiterate our full support for the Director General’s Seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security during an armed conflict, as well as for the Five principles established for the ZNPP.
Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure pose grave risks to nuclear safety and security. The EU is deeply concerned by the situation at the ZNPP, which, on 20th of August suffered its 27th complete loss of off-site power event since Russia started its war of aggression, and depended on diesel generators for the cooling of its reactors and spent fuel pools. We welcome the seventh local ceasefire negotiated by Director General Grossi and the refuelling of the plant’s diesel tanks. Nevertheless, reliance on diesel generators can never be a long-term measure and must not be prolonged. We also welcome the repairs by the Ukrainian workers of the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 electric line. We remain concerned that the main 750 kV Dniprovska line remains unenergized since March this year. We urge Russia to end its attacks against the electricity grid and its substations and thus allow more lines to be again made available.
We remain deeply concerned by multiple reports that Ukrainian personnel from the ZNPP continue to be detained by the Russian Federation. Reports of detention, intimidation, coercion and reprisals against Ukrainian ZNPP employees raise concerns about the conditions under which nuclear personnel are expected to perform their duties. As the Director General has repeatedly stressed through his Seven pillars, operating staff must be able to fulfil their duties and take decisions free from undue pressure. Consequently, the integrity of the ZNPP personnel must be fully upheld and any actions, whether military strikes near the facility or restrictive operational measures on site, that could undermine nuclear safety must cease immediately. We call for the release of detained Ukrainian ZNPP personnel.
We are also concerned by the significant intensification of Russian drone strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine, which further jeopardize nuclear safety and security of all of Ukraine’s nuclear installations. Over the past year at least 700 missile and drone flights were recorded above or near Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), resulting in at least three impacts on nuclear installations. In particular, we condemn in the strongest terms the drone attack this year leading to severe damage at the central spent fuel storage facility located in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. Furthermore, on 14 February 2025, significant damage was caused by a drone strike on the New Safe Confinement (NSC) and undermined decades of international efforts and investments exceeding EUR 2.1 billion. The EU alone had contributed EUR 423 million to this project. As a result of the damage sustained, the NSC has lost its primary safety functions. The urgency and importance of the NSC repairs requires our intervention and the European Commission has already allocated EUR 75 million in 2026 to support them. While the EU continues exploring ways to support the repair works together with other international partners, Russia must bear responsibility and provide compensation. The damage from Russian drone strikes to the critical substations, as observed and documented by the IAEA’s teams, also pose risks to the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. Furthermore, this increases the risk of a complete loss of off-site power, placing nuclear safety in even greater peril. In this context, we ask the Agency to brief Member States on its findings concerning the application of its safety standards and nuclear security guidance during armed conflicts.
President,
The EU unequivocally condemns Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We reiterate our call on Russia to comply with the IAEA General Conferences and Board of Governors resolutions. Russia must immediately and unconditionally withdraw its military and other unauthorized personnel and equipment from the ZNPP and from the entire territory of Ukraine, and return full control to Ukraine’s competent sovereign authorities.
We also call upon all States and international organisations to refrain from any action that would recognise any alteration by Russia of the status of any of the Ukrainian regions and the ownership of the ZNPP.
A lasting and resilient energy system can only be achievable through a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, including a full and unconditional ceasefire. The EU reiterates its unwavering support for such a peace, in line with the principles of international law and the UN Charter, based on full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We remain committed to offer robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression.
In closing, the EU calls on all delegations to support the work of the IAEA in Ukraine and to vote in favour of the draft Resolution before us.
Thank you, President.