According to press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is finalizing the stationing of permanent missions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants: Rivne, Chornobyl and South Ukraine NPPs. In the coming days, the mission at Khmelnytsky NPP is to start working. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during a joint press briefing with the IAEA Director General following the meeting on January 18.

"For the first time in the history of mankind, nuclear facilities have become an element of an offensive military strategy. Today, I heard from Director General Rafael Grossi assurances of full support from the IAEA for our efforts to ensure nuclear safety, including at the Zaporizhzhia NPP," the Prime Minister stressed.

According to Denys Shmyhal, this primarily concerns the complete withdrawal of russian troops and rosatom personnel from the plant and the return of ZNPP under the control of Ukrainian authorities. According to him, Mr. Grossi assured that the IAEA would never recognize russia as the owner of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The Prime Minister also told Rafael Grossi that 'Ukraine is firmly convinced of the necessity and timeliness of imposing sanctions on rosatom, restricting russia's rights and privileges in the IAEA and terminating cooperation with russia in the nuclear sphere'.

"rosatom's portfolio of foreign orders amounts to USD 200 billion. I strongly believe that most of these funds, if received, will be used to finance the war, to finance missiles that kill civilian Ukrainians and expose the entire world to nuclear danger. That is why we will continue to insist on limiting russia's rights and privileges in the IAEA and terminating cooperation with russia in the nuclear sphere," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Head of the Ukrainian Government also thanked Director General Rafael Grossi for his efforts and concrete results: "I am confident that these are only the first steps, which will be followed by other important initiatives".

For his part, Rafael Grossi noted that the IAEA missions to Ukrainian NPPs would operate at the official request of the Government of Ukraine. They will provide advice and technical assistance. According to him, the missions' work should continue during wartime and for some time afterwards to restore everything that was damaged.