Measures of collective response to threats to the energy sector and physical protection of energy facilities from seizure or destruction should become key principles of the new generation of national security.

This was emphasized by Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine for European Integration Yaroslav Demchenkov in a statement at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International International Atomic Energy Agency with the IAEA members and associate members. The event gathered together Executive Director of the IAEA Fatih Birol, Chairman of the Board of Governors Anders Hoffmann, ministers and ambassadors of the member countries.

"Energy security is part of the global security system. This is confirmed by russia's war against Ukraine, where missile attacks on energy facilities are used as part of hostilities to gain military advantage. Therefore, the energy sector has become the second front in russia's war against Ukraine. That is why we need to rethink the principles of protection of energy systems and stop russia," said Yaroslav Demchenkov.

He stressed the need to develop clear rules and requirements to ensure the security of energy facilities in active military conflicts. "We must create a system of protection against physical seizure or destruction of critical energy facilities. We must learn from this war and prevent future attacks on critical infrastructure that ensures the vital activity of civilians," the Deputy Minister said.

Also, according to him, it is critical to introduce the principle of "extraterritoriality": to establish measures of collective response and introduce legal responsibility for military and terrorist actions against energy infrastructure at the international level.

In this context, Yaroslav Demchenkov stressed that the world can already provide a decent response to the russian attacks aimed at the energy sector of Ukraine. "It is essential to strengthen sanctions against russia. They should be comprehensive and cover all important areas. russian fossil and nuclear fuels should be banned on the market of all civilized countries, russian scientists and technologies should be excluded from global cooperation. We must stop russia, because everything it possesses will be turned into weapons and sooner or later can be used against any country," the Deputy Minister stressed.