Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine regarding Russia's blocking of IAEA personnel rotation and the militarization of the ZNPP
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the blocking by the Russian Federation of the rotation of experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
The Russian occupying forces also continue to militarize the Zaporizhzhya NPP and the surrounding area, actively deploying military equipment and servicemen.
The Russian Federation grossly violates the norms of international law, undermines the norms of nuclear and radiation safety, and demonstrates complete disregard for the resolutions of the Board of Governors of the IAEA, which demand that Russia immediately withdraw military equipment and Russian personnel from the ZNPP.
If Russia is not stopped, its criminal actions at the Ukrainian nuclear facility could lead to a catastrophe, the scale of which was unknown to Europe.
Moscow should immediately unblock the rotation of IAEA experts and ensure their immediate safe movement through the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
The ongoing crimes of the Russian Federation against civilian nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the occupation of the ZNPP, obstruction of the work of the IAEA, and threats to the lives of international experts, require an urgent global response.
We call on the international community to take immediate steps to expand sanctions against the Russian state corporation Rosatom, its affiliated companies and institutions, as well as other key factors in Russia's nuclear energy industry. Separately, we emphasize the urgency of the complete termination of cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear technologies, as well as the limitation of Russia's rights and privileges in the IAEA.
We are counting on the active and effective efforts of IAEA Director General Raphael Grossi to counter the crimes of the Russian Federation.
The only possible way to restore nuclear safety and security in Europe is the immediate withdrawal of military and civilian personnel of the Russian Federation from the ZNPP, its demilitarization, and the restoration of Ukrainian control.
