Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to deliver this joint statement on behalf of the following 48 delegations: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom and European Union.

Our delegations reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We also reaffirm our full support for the Agency’s professional, impartial and fact-based efforts to help uphold nuclear safety, nuclear security and safeguards in Ukraine under the extremely challenging circumstances caused by Russia’s war of aggression.

We strongly condemn the Russian Federation’s continued actions against Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and nuclear-related infrastructure. Russia’s illegal war of aggression remains the root cause of all nuclear safety and security risks in Ukraine. Its seizure and continued occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, repeated strikes on energy infrastructure essential for nuclear safety, obstruction of normal oversight and operations, and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric continue to place Ukraine, the region and the wider international community at risk.

In this context, our delegations express grave concern over the military strike on 7 June 2026 against Ukraine’s Centralized Spent Fuel Storage Facility near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which caused damage to the facility’s infrastructure, including premises used by IAEA representatives, thereby endangering safety of IAEA staff.

This attack is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a wider pattern of Russia’s irresponsible conduct in the nuclear field. Since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, Russia has repeatedly disregarded the calls of this Board and the General Conference to cease all actions against and at nuclear facilities in Ukraine. Russia’s actions are inconsistent with the behaviour expected of a responsible IAEA Member State, undermining the international nuclear safety, security and safeguards framework.

We commend the courage, professionalism and commitment of Ukrainian and IAEA personnel working at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities under the conditions of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. We also recognize the continued efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to maintain nuclear safety and security and to support the Agency’s activities in Ukraine.

Russia must immediately cease all attacks against Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and related infrastructure essential for nuclear safety and security. It must fully respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and comply with the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference.

We further call on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw all military and other unauthorized personnel from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, to release all detained employees of the ZNPP, and to return the plant to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities, in order to ensure its safe and secure operation and to enable the Agency to conduct full, safe, efficient and effective safeguards implementation in accordance with Ukraine’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocol.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.