UN nuclear watchdog board demands Russia return Zaporizhzhia plant to Ukraine’s control

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has supported Ukraine's developed resolution on nuclear safety, security, and guarantees in Ukraine with the majority of votes.

According to Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, the document calls on Russia to urgently withdraw all unauthorized personnel, including military personnel, from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). 

It demands the immediate return of the plant under the full control of competent authorities of Ukraine under the existing license issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. This is necessary to ensure its safe and reliable operation, Rubryka reports.

"The Russian Federation openly demonstrates hostility toward the agency and deliberately undermines trust in the non-proliferation system. By supporting the resolution developed by Ukraine today, countries will send a clear signal to Russia to stop its illegal activities," said the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko. "Voting for this resolution demonstrates the commitment of the IAEA and the necessity of restoring safety at Europe's largest nuclear power plant. After all, even a minor accident at the Zaporizhzhia NPP could halt the future development of nuclear energy worldwide."

The adopted document also expresses serious concerns about the unstable state of nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP, particularly the absence of properly qualified personnel on-site, gaps in carrying out planned preventative works, lack of reliable supply chains, vulnerable water supply, external power supply, and the installation of anti-tank mines in the buffer zone between the inner and outer perimeter of the facility.

Background

The IAEA Board of Governors is the agency's executive body, comprising representatives from 35 member countries. Among its responsibilities are approving agreements on guarantees and establishing safety norms of the IAEA, reviewing financial statements, programs, and the agency's budget, creating recommendations for the General Conference, and more. Decisions adopted by the Board are binding on all IAEA member countries.

As Rubryka reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in September 2023 that Ukraine became a member of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2023-2025. The president appointed Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko as Ukraine's representative to the IAEA Board of Governors for 2024-2025 and formed a delegation to participate in the body's meetings.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion, the International Atomic Energy Agency has transferred equipment worth over €8.5 million to Ukraine for power plants.

About the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The Russian occupation forces seized the Zaporizhzhia NPP at the beginning of the full-scale invasion on March 4, 2022. Aggressors not only violate the operating regime of the plant but also use its premises to store equipment and deploy personnel.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned of the risk of a terrorist attack at the plant. Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko stated that Russia could create conditions that would lead to a nuclear incident after the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Ukrainian defenders.

The IAEA confirmed the presence of mines at the Zaporizhzhia NPP previously installed by Russian occupiers.

Moreover, the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved a resolution on the immediate return of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under full control of Ukraine.

Since the Russians seized the ZNPP, it has repeatedly lost the external power supply, experiencing seven full blackouts and one partial blackout.