Mr. Chair,

We meet today deeply troubled by the escalating crisis at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is a direct consequence of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

This latest drone attack on the ZNPP on 7 April 2024, coupled with Russia's attempt to shift blame onto Ukraine, is yet another egregious crime in a well-established pattern.

Mr. Chair,

Distinguished Members of the Board,

Russian aggression against Ukraine began with a blatant disregard for international law. The Russian forces seized control of the ZNPP on 4 March 2022, following a direct attack and subsequent shelling of an operational reactor.

This illegal occupation of Ukraine’s peaceful nuclear facility continues, and Russia's attempts to take ownership of this Ukrainian-licensed and IAEA-safeguarded facility, further highlight the illegal nature of the Russian presence at the ZNPP.

The IAEA, as underlined in a number of DG's reports, clearly recognizes the illegality of Russia's actions, thus echoing the position of the United Nations General Assembly.

Even prior to the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia had already launched a massive disinformation campaign targeting Ukraine's nuclear industry.

This campaign served a broader strategy of nuclear blackmail directed against Ukraine, its partners and the IAEA. Russia's diplomatic corps, including its Permanent Representative in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov, actively spread misinformation through social media channels and disinformation network. They have been repeatedly – and clearly falsely – accusing Ukraine of harbouring a clandestine nuclear programme and thereby downplayed the danger posed by Russia's actions at the ZNPP.

These accusations stand in stark contrast to the IAEA's findings throughout the ZNPP’s occupation, and highlight the manipulative nature of Russia's tactics.

Russia's disinformation campaign has a clear purpose:

First – weaken international support for Ukraine. By painting a picture of a reckless Ukraine with nuclear ambitions or terrorist goals, Russia aims to undermine international resolve and support for Ukraine in confronting Russia’s brutal inhuman aggression.

Second – undermine the authority of the IAEA. Through individuals like Ambassador Ulyanov, or state-sponsored propagandists, or organizations such as Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry, or any other Russian government agency – Russia seeks to sow distrust in the findings and inspections of the IAEA.

Third – justify its aggression. Previously, Russia had fabricated the claim that Ukraine allegedly possessed so-called "dirty bombs" and used this as one of the pretexts for invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, current accusations that Ukraine is shelling its own nuclear facility are a cynical attempt to justify Russia’s continued occupation of the ZNPP and to distract the world community from its reckless militarization of the Plant.

Exploiting the “mirror” tactics, Russia accuses Ukraine of the very actions it itself commits, creating false equivalence and manipulating public perception.

On top of that, Russia relies on fear-mongering and emotional manipulation, without providing evidence, in order to sow discord in the international community.

The recent attack on the ZNPP is a blatant continuation of this disinformation strategy. But this time it is many times more dangerous, since these are not just words, but a real encroachment on the physical integrity of a nuclear facility.

Russia's attempt to pin the blame on Ukraine is a desperate effort to hide its gilt. The documented presence of Russian military equipment and personnel at the ZNPP, confirmed by independent observers and the IAEA, sharply contradicts Russian claims.

We appeal to you, distinguished Members of this Board, and also urge the international community to see through Russia's web of lies. The reality is obvious: Russia deliberately creates nuclear threats at the Ukrainian peaceful nuclear facility, which it continues to occupy.

Nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia NPP can only be restored after Russia has fully withdrawn from the nuclear facility it occupies and the competent authorities of its legal host, Ukraine, have regained full control over the plant.

This is the imperative that all of us need to define as the determinative principle of nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.

In stark contrast to Russia's reckless actions, Ukraine prioritizes nuclear safety.

This approach of Ukraine is reflected in the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine, which puts “Radiation and nuclear safety” at the top of the agenda.

Translating this commitment into action, Ukrainian engineers demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication by restoring the critical backup power line at the ZNPP within days despite constant shelling by Russia.

Distinguished Members of the Board,

We must not allow Russia's disinformation campaign to succeed. The safety and security of nuclear facilities around the world hang in the balance. We must act decisively to hold Russia accountable and ensure the safety of the ZNPP.

Until Russia withdraws, the threats associated with nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP will only evolve, while our capability to prevent nuclear catastrophe there will only diminish.

Let me put it very clear, Russia’s actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities, including against the ZNPP, are completely inconsistent with the objectives of this Agency as set out in the IAEA Statute.

It is worth noting that the IAEA missions, continuously present at all Ukrainian nuclear power plants, to this date report no events affecting nuclear and/or radiation safety and nuclear security of other facilities in Ukraine, except for the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The cause of the security crisis at the ZNPP is unprovoked Russian aggression against the sovereign state of Ukraine.

As long as the ZNPP remains under Russian occupation, security and technological challenges make safe operation of the plant impossible.

Unable to achieve its strategic goals in the war against Ukraine, the Russian military-political leadership is forced to look for alternative “victorious outcomes” of the war. Thus, the Zaporizhzhia NPP is an extremely valuable “asset” for Russian propaganda. 

But even Russian propaganda, supported by the entire state apparatus, could not hide the facts of the brutal violation of the international nuclear safety regime at the occupied ZNPP, which become clear and evident thanks to regular IAEA reports.

It is obvious that the paradigm of the Board’s response to Russian actions should change to a proactive one.

The inevitable accountability of the perpetrator must be reinforced by national sanctions against Russian players involved in the occupation of the Ukrainian ZNPP, as well as by practical actions by the Board of Governors in response to violations by Russia.

It is our hope that this meeting will mark a turning point in moving towards proactive steps which we, as Board Members, must collectively take in order to stop the aggressor and preserve nuclear safety and security globally.

Having said that, I would like through you, Mr. Chair, to invite a representative of IAEA’s Office of Legal Affairs to mark for the record the official position of the IAEA regarding the ownership of the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

I thank you, Mr. Chair.