Ukraine has credible evidence that Russia has not abandoned plans to restart the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and unlawfully integrate it into the energy system of temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine.
This was stated by Ukraine's Minister of Energy, Herman Halushchenko, during a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna on Thursday.
"Ukraine has credible evidence that Russia has not abandoned plans to restart the ZNPP and unlawfully integrate it into the energy system of the temporarily occupied territories. Public statements by the leadership of Rosatom confirm their intention to restart the plant under Russian control, despite attempts to mislead the IAEA director-general," he said.
The Ukrainian minister emphasized that such actions represent a gross violation of international law and a direct threat to nuclear safety.
He reminded that all six reactors at the ZNPP remain in a "cold shutdown" state, as required by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine.
Against this backdrop, Halushchenko noted that Russian forces continue to militarize the station and the surrounding occupied areas, using them as a base for artillery shelling of Ukrainian-controlled regions.
"Among the most urgent issues are the stability of external power supplies, the availability of a reliable source of cooling water, the sufficient number of qualified personnel, and the timely and proper maintenance of all critical safety-related structures, systems, and components," the minister added.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Russia continues to hinder the work of IAEA experts at the ZNPP, disrupting the scheduled rotation of mission members several times in February. "These actions suggest that Russia is trying to conceal military activities at the plant and complicate the assessment of the safety situation," the minister added.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian occupation since March 4, 2022. In September, the station completely ceased electricity production. Russian troops and military equipment are present at the nuclear facility. The ZNPP’s external power lines have been repeatedly damaged due to shelling.
