Threat to Ukraine’s nuclear facilities remains at the highest level

Oleh Korikov, Head of the State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine, stated that Ukrainian nuclear facilities are still under the highest threat due to the actions of the Russian occupiers

According to him, there's no talk about any results of diplomatic efforts of the IAEA and other international organizations to improve the situation, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"I am forced to state that so far, despite the active initiatives of the Ukrainian side, unfortunately, no diplomatic efforts of the IAEA and other international partners have led to real results in reducing or eliminating military risks at Ukraine's nuclear facilities," Korikov said in a video message on Tuesday.

According to him, today in Ukraine, because of Russia's military aggression, there are risks not only of radiation accidents of various scales, loss of control over radiation sources, but also unprecedented risks of a global nuclear catastrophe.

The head of SNRIU stressed that by carrying out cynical and brutal invasions and further seizures of nuclear facilities, the Russian occupiers are ignoring internationally recognized principles and security requirements, as well as Russia's international obligations as a member of the UN and the IAEA.

Korikov noted that according to the IAEA resolution, "an armed attack and threat to nuclear facilities intended for peaceful purposes is a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the IAEA Charter."

The head of the SNRIU called the demonstrative attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on the night of March 4 cynicism. This happened immediately after the emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which strongly condemned the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and stressed the inadmissibility of the seizure and destruction of nuclear energy.

Korikov added that along with the seizure of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and the industrial site, as well as the ZNPP site where seven nuclear facilities are located, artillery shelling in Kharkiv destroyed the building of the regional oncology dispensary, which houses high-level radiation sources. "Source of neutrons," loaded with 37 nuclear fuel cells.

"Military seizure of nuclear facilities, as well as military action against other nuclear facilities and facilities using radiation sources in Ukraine, create unprecedented risks in terms of nuclear and radiation safety, as well as the preservation of nuclear facilities, nuclear materials, radioactive waste, and other sources of radiation," explained the head of the nuclear regulator.

Korikov stressed that such actions of the Russian occupiers should be considered acts of nuclear terrorism.