Board of Governors International Atomic Energy Agency - EU Statement on Item 6: Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine

Chair, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina¹ and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as San Marino, align themselves with this statement. 

It has now been more than four years since Russia launched its unprovoked 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.

Chair,

We thank the Director General for his latest report and for the Agency’s continued engagement and presence on the ground under extremely challenging circumstances. We remain deeply concerned by the findings contained in the report and by the past day’s events, which confirm that the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine remains highly fragile and precarious.

The intense military activity in the vicinity of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants reported by IAEA staff is unacceptable. We remain particularly concerned by the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which continues to pose severe nuclear safety and security risks. The reported damage at a turbine building of the ZNPP on May 30th adds to this concern.

Since the end of March, the ZNPP has been relying on only one remaining external back-up power line after losing connection to the 750 kV Dniprovska power line due to Russia’s continued military activities.  We congratulate the Director General on his successful efforts to achieve a sixth localized ceasefire to allow for the necessary repairs, though recent events have affected its implementation. We highly commend the professionalism, dedication and courage of the IAEA staff who continue to carry out their essential mission under exceptionally challenging circumstances, including their unprecedented presence at the demining works. We recall that it is of utmost importance that Agency personnel are never exposed to unnecessary risks. Their safety and security must remain paramount. 

The ZNPP has lost all off-site power twice in the past week and 18 times since Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. We reiterate 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. 

In particular, we underline the importance of maintaining secure off-site power supplies to all nuclear sites, which remain essential for nuclear safety and security. We call again on Russia to grant the IAEA unrestricted and timely access to all requested locations, information and personnel at the ZNPP.

Chair,

We remind Russia that one of the seven pillars requires that operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties free from undue pressure. In this regard, we remain deeply concerned by the continued unlawful detention by Russia of Ukrainian ZNPP personnel. Despite repeated calls by many Member States during the March Board, no progress has been achieved. We call on Russia to immediately release detained staff and to fully respect the rights, safety and professional independence of all Ukrainian nuclear personnel. 

Chair,

We also condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s drone attack on the central spent fuel storage facility located in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. While it did not result in a radioactive release, it underscores the associated serious nuclear safety risks. This incident happened just two months after the international community commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, a solemn reminder of the catastrophic and transboundary consequences for people and the environment of nuclear accidents. On the occasion of the Chornobyl anniversary, European and international leaders gathered at the Chornobyl site to honour the victims. The tragic Chornobyl disaster reminds all of us of the responsibility to prevent nuclear accidents and to maintain and continuously improve the highest level of nuclear safety and security. 

Yet, despite these lessons, the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl site, constructed with significant international support, including more than EUR 423 million contributed by the European Union, was hit by a drone strike last year and suffered severe damage. The incident undermined decades of international efforts and investments exceeding EUR 2.1 billion. As a result of the damage sustained, the NSC has lost its primary safety function. While the EU, together with other international partners, is exploring ways to support the repair works, Russia, which caused that damage, must bear responsibility and provide compensation. 

We are also concerned by the recurring fire risks affecting the Chornobyl site due to intensified military activities. These further compromise nuclear safety.

Chair,

We commend the Director General and the Agency for maintaining a continuous presence at Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and for continuing missions to substations identified as critical for nuclear safety and security. 

Furthermore, we take note of the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the IAEA and Ukraine aimed at expanding cooperation in the fields of nuclear safety, energy infrastructure resilience and the recovery and modernization of Ukraine’s nuclear sector. We welcome this important step, which further underlines the Agency’s long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine under these exceptional circumstances. 

We remain steadfast in our support for the IAEA’s efforts to assist Ukraine in ensuring nuclear safety, security and safeguards. 

We call on all Member States to support the Joint Statement on Ukraine and to urge Russia to comply with all UN General Assembly, IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors’ resolutions on Ukraine. All States must uphold their obligations under international law and the IAEA Statute.

We request that the Director General continue to keep the Board regularly informed on nuclear safety and security developments in Ukraine, including on the Agency’s missions to substations.

Thank you, Chair.

¹North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.