Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the Consideration by the IAEA Board of Governors of the Issue of Nuclear Safety in Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the Joint Statement on Implications of Unstable Energy Infrastructure Critical to Safety and Security of Nuclear Power Plants in Ukraine issued by the IAEA Board of Governors on November 20.

The statement was supported by 56 member states of the Agency from different regions of the world, including the United States, which once again confirms the universality of international community’s position on the risks to the nuclear safety poised by russian attacks against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine. We are grateful to all the states that supported the Statement, for their solidarity.

The Joint Statement rightfully emphasizes that reliable off-site power supply is a key prerequisite for ensuring the nuclear safety of the nuclear power plants. Targeted russian missile and drone strikes on high-voltage electrical substations, which IAEA identified as critical for the guaranteed off-site power supply of Ukrainian NPPs, is unacceptable.

russian strikes on the aforementioned substations not only destabilize the energy system of Ukraine, but also deliberately eliminate the levels of redundancy that underlie the principle of “defense in depth” in nuclear safety. The aggressor state is aimed at depriving Ukrainian nuclear power plants of several successive levels of protection, narrowing the space for operators for safe response to emergency situations. This is a deliberate creation by the Russian terrorists of threats of nuclear incidents with transborder consequences.

Responding to the Joint Statement of the 56 IAEA member states following the meeting of the Board of Governors, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha emphasized that a principled international position helps to deter further escalation, protect the global nuclear security regime, and increase the political cost of Russia's reckless attempts to weaponize energy and nuclear risks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine highly appreciates the strong support of international partners in the IAEA framework and expects further strengthening of the broad coalition of states that consistently demand an end to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure. Ukraine calls on its allies to further increase international pressure on the aggressor state in order to force it to stop its nuclear blackmail, comply with its international legal obligations, and return the ZNPP under control of its rightful owner, Ukraine. This is the only way to restore security, prevent a nuclear disaster, and ensure respect for the fundamental principles of global nuclear safety and security.