First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal, together with Rafael Grossi, heard reports from the heads of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and from the heads of IAEA missions operating at these facilities.
“Today marks three years since the launch of the IAEA’s first mission to the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant. Despite extremely dangerous conditions, the Agency’s experts continue their inspections at Ukrainian energy facilities. We expect the eighth mission to arrive in the near future. This is an important signal of support at a time when Russia is systematically escalating risks in the nuclear domain,” Denys Shmyhal said, expressing gratitude to the IAEA for its role in supporting nuclear safety in Ukraine.
The First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the work of the IAEA missions is also critical for providing the international community with objective and verified information on the situation in Ukraine.
According to Denys Shmyhal, ongoing attacks on the power grid and key substations, as well as the transit of drones and missiles through the airspace of nuclear power plants, constitute clear acts of nuclear terrorism under international conventions. He called on the IAEA to exercise its authority under Article III.A.6 of the IAEA Statute and to ensure compliance with the Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety, which Russia is openly violating.
“At the end of January, the IAEA Board of Governors will convene at Ukraine’s request. The Agency must raise the issue of Russia’s full international isolation and the suspension of its rights as a member state whose actions threaten a global catastrophe and fundamentally contradict the mission of the IAEA,” Denys Shmyhal stressed.
He also urged the IAEA to inform the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly of Russia’s violations of nuclear and radiation safety standards and to initiate the application of appropriate international sanctions.
Denys Shmyhal thanked the IAEA team for its systematic work and expressed confidence in the Agency’s continued close cooperation with Ukraine and its leadership in upholding international nuclear safety requirements.
