Mr President,

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

We remain deeply concerned by multiple reports indicating that Ukrainian personnel from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) continue to be detained by the Russian Federation, including employees who have reportedly received lengthy prison sentences.

We recall that many Member States raised this issue during the March and June 2026 meetings of the Board of Governors and called for the release of detained ZNPP personnel. We regret that these concerns remain unresolved.

The ability of nuclear personnel to carry out their duties professionally, safely and free from undue pressure is fundamental to the safe and secure operation of any nuclear facility. Reports of detention, intimidation, coercion and reprisals against Ukrainian ZNPP employees are therefore deeply troubling and raise concerns about the conditions under which nuclear personnel are expected to perform their duties.

As the Director General has repeatedly stressed through his "seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety and security during armed conflict", operating staff must be able to fulfil their duties and take decisions free from undue pressure.

We also recall the Agency's safety standards on leadership, management and safety culture. A strong safety culture depends on qualified personnel, open communication, trust, and the ability to raise concerns without fear of adverse consequences. It also depends on the retention of operational knowledge and expertise. Conditions that undermine these factors can have implications for the safe and secure management of a nuclear power plant.

We are particularly concerned about the longer-term implications for staffing resilience, the retention of institutional knowledge, and the preservation of a strong safety culture at the site. These issues are directly relevant to the continued safe and secure operation of the plant.

We therefore call for the immediate release of detained Ukrainian ZNPP personnel. The safe operation of a nuclear power plant depends on experienced and qualified staff, continuity of expertise, and the preservation of institutional knowledge.

The continued absence of personnel with years of operational experience risks weakening staffing resilience, eroding institutional knowledge, and undermining the strong safety culture required for the safe and secure operation of the site.

We support the IAEA's continued presence and activities in Ukraine and encourage continued reporting on issues affecting ZNPP personnel, including where these may have implications for nuclear safety, nuclear security and safety culture.

We reiterate our support for efforts to ensure the long-term safety and security of the ZNPP and renew our call for the plant to be returned to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities. Maintaining nuclear safety and security requires not only the protection of facilities and infrastructure, but also the expertise, professionalism and confidence of the personnel who operate them. These individuals remain an indispensable element of the safe and secure management of the plant.

Finally, we express our strong support for Canada’s draft resolution on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine, which addresses the continuing challenges and risks arising from the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. We call on all Member States to support its adoption and thereby reaffirm their commitment to nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr President.