On 14 August 2024, Oleh Bondarenko, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, met with Mark Foy, Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Chairman of the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA), and Oleh Korikov, Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine. This was reported by the press service of the Parliament of Ukraine.

Committee Chairman Oleh Bondarenko expressed his gratitude to Mark Foy personally and to the British people who have supported and continue to support Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale unprovoked military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was one of the first to respond to Ukraine's request for assistance in the safety of nuclear facilities, radioactive waste management facilities, uranium facilities, and other sources of ionising radiation.

Given that the ONR is an internationally recognised leading nuclear and radiation safety regulator and the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) is a leading and influential European organisation of nuclear and radiation safety regulators of EU member states for the development of common standards for nuclear and radiation safety regulation within the EU, as well as for the development of conditions for ensuring nuclear safety in countries that plan to become EU members, Mr Mark Foy expressed readiness to provide comprehensive support for the restoration of lost vital functions of the nuclear industry.

In his turn, Oleh Korikov informed that SNRIU Management twice a year participates in WENRA plenary meetings, where they adhere to the position that meets the national interests of Ukraine and use this international platform to inform the world expert community about the threats posed by the russian army to nuclear and radiation infrastructure facilities, as well as inform representatives of regulatory authorities of WENRA member states and observers on the current state of nuclear and radiation safety in Ukraine.

Mark Foy also expressed his sincere interest in Ukraine's unique experience in maintaining the safety of nuclear facilities under martial law and occupation by russian troops. After all, Ukraine is a recognised nuclear power that became the first non-European Union country to become a full member of WENRA. And at the moment, during the terrible present, Ukraine is not only fighting for its territorial integrity, but is one of the countries that during martial law and armed aggression of the russian federation provides an opportunity to demonstrate compliance with nuclear safety levels, which in turn becomes an example and helps to agree on principles and provisions in the formation of a collective agreement on cooperation of WENRA member states and observers.

In conclusion, the Chairman of the Committee thanked the participants of the meeting and expressed hope that soon nuclear regulation will require only peaceful purpose, which is what we all strive for for the sake of future generations, and our calls for the speedy de-occupation of Zaporizhzhya NPP should be supported by the whole world in order to prevent manipulation of nuclear weapons in the hands of one terrorist.