Ukraine calls on IAEA leadership not to side with Russia on Zaporizhzhya NPP issue

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the international organizations in Vienna Yuriy Vitrenko stated this in an exclusive comment to Ukrinform.

“Unfortunately, the IAEA leadership has once again sided with Russia. It is time to remind everyone that the so-called “professional” management of the Zaporizhzhya NPP by Rosatom and Rostekhnadzor over the three years of occupation of this Ukrainian nuclear facility has already led to a number of dangerous consequences,” Vitrenko commented on the statement by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi about the “professional” management of the Zaporizhzhya NPP by the Russian occupiers.

The Ukrainian representative emphasized the decline in nuclear safety standards at the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP due to a shortage of qualified personnel and a lack of control by the Ukrainian operator. Many experienced specialists were forced to leave the plant and were replaced by untrained Russian personnel. The impossibility of ensuring basic safety at the facility is evidenced by recent reports of damage to a diesel fuel storage tank at Zaporizhzhya NPP.

In addition, Russian military actions and shelling of critical infrastructure have resulted in frequent power outages, increasing the risk of a nuclear accident. As a result, Zaporizhzhya NPP has repeatedly experienced complete power outages, relying on backup diesel generators.

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Vitrenko also highlighted the militarization of the Russian-occupied nuclear power plant:

“The deployment of Russian troops, military equipment and ammunition on the territory of the Zaporizhzhya NPP has turned it into a military base, which seriously violates the principles of nuclear safety and creates the risk of a catastrophe.”

At the same time, the Russian occupation administration exerts psychological and physical pressure on the plant's personnel. Numerous cases of intimidation, kidnapping and torture of Ukrainian workers have been recorded. Quite recently, the Russian puppeteer court sentenced Sergei Potynga, who was kidnapped in Energodar, to 18 years in prison on a trumped-up charge of “preparing a terrorist act.”

Vitrenko also pointed out Russia’s ongoing violation of international norms and obligations:

“The Russian FSB is preventing IAEA experts from conducting full inspections of the plant, which makes it impossible to objectively assess its technical condition and safety.”

The Ukrainian representative also highlighted environmental and radiation risks, warning that:

“Interruptions in the supply of electricity to the reactor cooling systems, non-compliance with regulatory procedures and the potential threat of an accident could have catastrophic consequences not only for Ukraine, but for the entire region.”

Vitrenko noted that the occupation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP by Russian troops is an unprecedented act of nuclear terrorism.

“Any statements about ‘professional’ management of this facility by Russia are manipulations and an attempt to whitewash the aggressor, putting the entire world at risk,” he emphasized.

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He added that the position of “inaction” in the face of Russia’s flagrant violations of international law is not only short-sighted, but also downright dangerous.

“The IAEA must call a spade a spade and act in accordance with its obligations to the international community, and not side with the aggressor state. This creates a dangerous precedent, when a criminal is helped to escape responsibility, hiding behind technocratic rhetoric,” Vitrenko concluded.

Earlier, Ukrinform reported that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that Russia was “professionally” managing the occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP and that the plant could potentially be restarted within a few months if a ceasefire agreement was reached.

Photo: Konstantin Liberov