Madam Chairperson, 

Distinguished members of the Board, 

Ukraine sincerely thanks all the countries that have joined the joint statement, delivered by Canada, in support of Ukraine’s nuclear safety and security. Your solidarity and commitment to upholding international law and nuclear safety principles are invaluable in the face of ongoing threats to our nuclear facilities. We deeply appreciate your unwavering support in addressing these unprecedented challenges.

Last week marked three years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and eleven years since the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including the illegal occupation of Crimea.

This week also marks three years since Russia’s unlawful occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) – a grave violation of international law that has yet to receive an adequate response from the international community.

Russia’s nuclear-related violations began in 2014 when it seized the Sevastopol Research Reactor, unlawfully taking control of a nuclear facility on Ukrainian territory. The absence of consequences for this breach set a dangerous precedent, emboldening Russia to escalate its attacks against Ukrainian nuclear sites. This pattern has culminated in the ongoing occupation of the ZNPP—the largest nuclear power plant in Europe—posing unprecedented risks to nuclear safety and security.

Madam Chairperson, 

On 14 February 2025, the Russian Federation conducted a deliberate drone attack on the New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant – a facility designed to prevent radioactive contamination.

A Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), equipped with a high-explosive warhead, struck the northern side of the NSC’s outer shell. The impact caused localized structural damage and cause a fire between the layers of the confinement. Ukrainian emergency response teams have been working for over two weeks to extinguish residual fires.

The NSC was designed to safeguard the environment from residual radioactive materials following the 1986 Chornobyl disaster—one of the most severe nuclear incidents in history. Its construction was a joint effort by donor countries, international organizations, and leading engineering institutes, representing the most significant nuclear safety project ever undertaken.

Now, with a single drone strike, Russia has compromised the integrity of this critical containment structure, significantly increasing the risk of radioactive contamination. The full extent of the damage and required reconstruction efforts are still under assessment.

Ukraine has always emphasized and continues to emphasize that nuclear facilities must never become targets of military operations. Ensuring the safety and security of the Chernobyl NPP remains a priority, and Ukraine calls on the international community to take urgent steps to prevent further escalations that could lead to irreversible nuclear consequences.

Madam Chairperson, 

Since March 2022, when Russian forces seized control of the ZNPP, the situation at the plant has steadily deteriorated. All seven indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars, as well as the five principles for the protection of the ZNPP, continue to be systematically violated.

Currently, all six ZNPP units remain in a cold state, as required by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. However, Russian forces continue to militarize the facility and the surrounding occupied territories, using them as a base for artillery strikes on Ukrainian-controlled areas.

Among the most pressing concerns are the stability of off-site power supply, the availability of a reliable cooling water source, the presence of sufficient qualified personnel, and timely and adequate maintenance of all safety-critical structures, systems, and components.

Ukraine continues to supply the ZNPP with electricity from its national grid. However, of the original ten power lines, only two remain operational due to Russian attacks. Strikes launched from the currently occupied cities of Enerhodar and Kamianka-Dniprovska continue to damage these lines, jeopardizing the plant’s external power supply. The IAEA Director General has repeatedly warned of the increasing risk of a complete blackout at the ZNPP.

Russia also continues to obstruct the work of IAEA experts at the plant. In February 2025 alone, Moscow deliberately disrupted scheduled expert rotations multiple times. These actions suggest that Russia seeks to conceal military activities at the site and obscure safety situation.

Moreover, Ukraine has credible evidence that Russia has not abandoned its plans to restart the ZNPP and illegally integrate it into the power grid of the temporarily occupied territories. Public statements by Rosatom leadership confirm their intention to restart the plant under Russian control, despite their attempts to mislead the IAEA Director General. Any such action would constitute a severe violation of international law and a direct threat to nuclear safety.

Madam Chairperson, 

Ukraine condemns the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state during recent rotation of the IAEA expert mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which was carried out without agreement with the Ukrainian authorities.

We fully understand that Russia deliberately created artificial obstacles to the activities of the IAEA, forcing the Agency to violate Ukrainian legislation, bilateral agreements with Ukraine, and disregard UN General Assembly resolutions.

By keeping international experts at ZNPP site for more than 80 days Russia put at the highest risk their lives.

Russia's influence on the activities of the international organization creates a negative precedent with far-reaching consequences, undermining the independence and impartiality of the Agency.

Ukraine reaffirms its firm position that any rotation of IAEA experts at the ZNPP must take place exclusively through routes agreed upon with the Ukrainian authorities and via territories under the full control of the Government of Ukraine.

Allowing Russia to dictate the conditions of IAEA operations on occupied Ukrainian territory is unacceptable and contradicts the very principles upon which the Agency was founded.

Madam Chairperson, 

The safety and security of operating nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities is a top priority for Ukraine. We continue to take all necessary measures to protect our population and the environment, ensuring that nuclear energy remains safe for neighbouring countries. The same cannot be said for the Russian Federation.

Between 1 January and 18 February 2025 alone, Ukrainian authorities recorded
138 overflights of Russian attack drones and missiles through the observation and sanitary protection zones of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. These incidents pose an unacceptable risk of collision and damage to critical systems.

In 2024, Russia conducted thirteen large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure, targeting electrical substations identified by the IAEA as essential for the stable operation of nuclear power plants. These strikes caused emergency reactor shutdowns, reduced power generation capacity, and increased risks to both nuclear safety and overall grid stability.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi deployed an expert mission to assess the condition of electrical substations critical to the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. Since September 2024, the IAEA has conducted five technical assessment missions to document extensive damage caused by Russian attacks.

Ukraine appreciates the continued support of the IAEA, including the Director General’s personal visit to one of these substations in February 2025 to assess the impact of Russia’s strikes firsthand. We rely on the Agency’s strengthened engagement to safeguard Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.

Distinguished Governors, 

Ukraine is grateful for the IAEA’s unwavering commitment to supporting the safe and secure operation of our nuclear facilities. The continued presence of IAEA staff at Ukrainian NPPs, along with technical support and assistance for nuclear safety and security and medical assistance under RANET as well as assistance under ISAMKO, independent monitoring, remains invaluable in addressing the unprecedented challenges we face and we are grateful for that.

However, the current situation is unsustainable. The international community must not remain passive in the face of Russia's gross violations of the IAEA Statute and its persistent disregard for Board of Governors and General Conference resolutions.

It is imperative that all nations take a firm and united stance against Russia’s actions. Nuclear safety must not be compromised.

Thank you!