EU Statement on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine as delivered at the IAEA Board of Governors, 4-8 March 2024

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina[1] 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.

The EU strongly supports Ukraine and the draft Resolution presented to the Board under this item. Two years have passed since Russia started its unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, threatening the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. It is therefore important for the Board to address the issue and support the work of the IAEA to help avoid a nuclear accident in Ukraine, with all its potential regional and global consequences, including for global food security.

We remain seriously concerned about the continued precarious nuclear safety and security situation in particular at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), as reported by the IAEA Director General. None of the serious risks identified by the Agency existed before Russia’s illegal seizure of the plant two years ago.

During the reporting period, the situation continued to degrade. The plant suffered its eighth total loss of off-site power, the remaining licensed Ukrainian personnel have been excluded, and the regular maintenance of critical safety systems continued to be delayed. As the time passes, the ageing of equipment increases risks to the nuclear safety and security of the plant. Moreover, following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, the source of cooling water remains precarious. Regular detonations in the vicinity of the ZNPP were reported as well as the presence of anti-personnel mines at and around the ZNPP.

The communication lines, including the online transmission of data from the radiation monitoring system from the ZNPP to the competent State authority remain interrupted, in disregard with IAEA safety standards.

According to the IAEA Director General, six out of the Seven Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security in armed conflict are being compromised fully or partially at the ZNPP. In this context, we stress the importance of respecting the Seven Pillars. Despite repeated requests, the IAEA is not given access to all areas of the ZNPP, or to the information relevant for nuclear safety. Such access is essential for the IAEA to fully confirm the observance of the five concrete principles for protecting the ZNPP, notably the absence of heavy weapons. Russia must provide timely and appropriate access to all parts of the ZNPP and all information, as requested by the IAEA. The five principles must be respected.

Given the vulnerable power status of the ZNPP, as reported by the Director General, all ZNPP reactors must remain in a shutdown state, in accordance with the order of the Ukrainian regulator, and as recommended by the IAEA. The physical integrity of Ukraine’s other nuclear power plants also remains under threat as long as Russia continues its warfare.

The EU welcomes that despite the very challenging circumstances the IAEA has been able to continue to implement safeguards and undertake in-field verification activities, in accordance with Ukraine’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol.

The EU greatly appreciates the IAEA’s continued presence at all Ukrainian nuclear sites as well as its technical support and assistance to help maintain nuclear safety and security. We commend the courage and determination of all IAEA staff involved. The EU will continue to provide financial support for the IAEA’s activities in Ukraine in 2024.

Returning the ZNPP to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities is the only lasting solution to minimise the risk of a nuclear accident. The EU therefore reiterates its strong call on Russia to immediately and completely withdraw from the ZNPP. It belongs to Ukraine. Russia’s attempts to illegally take ownership of Ukraine’s ZNPP have no validity under international law.

The EU continues to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary. We support all efforts towards achieving a just, lasting and sustainable peace based on Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

It is high time to collectively address nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine, two years after the Board adopted its first Resolution followed by Russia’s illegal seizure of the ZNPP. We call upon all Board Members to support the draft Resolution in front of us.

Thank you, Chair.

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