Svitlana Grynchuk and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi discuss cooperation to ensure nuclear safety

During the 69th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held in Vienna, Ukraine’s Minister of Energy, Svitlana Grynchuk, met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Key topics of discussion included the Agency’s support for Ukraine’s nuclear sector and energy resilience, the current situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and the restoration of the New Safe Confinement structure’s integrity at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Rafael Grossi emphasised that nuclear safety and security at ZNPP remain a priority for the Agency. In his opening remarks at the Conference, the IAEA Director General noted that since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Agency has deployed over 200 missions to Ukrainian nuclear power plants, involving nearly 200 staff members.

“We greatly value the contribution of IAEA missions to ensuring Europe’s nuclear safety and rely on the continued presence of experts at Ukrainian facilities,” Svitlana Grynchuk stressed.

The discussion also touched on plans for developing nuclear power generation and implementing modern technologies. Despite numerous challenges, Ukraine continues to progress in this area and counts on the expertise and partnership of the IAEA in these strategic efforts. The joint work under the Memorandum of Cooperation, signed with the IAEA on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome, is of significant importance.

“I thank the IAEA and Rafael Mariano Grossi for their support. We face many challenges and complex tasks, but I am convinced that only through united efforts can we ensure nuclear safety in our country, Europe, and the world,” concluded Ukraine’s Minister of Energy.