The only way to restore nuclear and radiation safety at Zaporizhzhya NPP is to force the russian federation to implement IAEA Board of Governors resolutions GC(67)/RES/16 and IAEA General Conference resolutions GOV/2022/17, GOV/2022/58, GOV/2022/71, GOV/2024/18. However, the russian federation continues to ignore the calls of the international community for the urgent withdrawal of troops and all unauthorised personnel from the Ukrainian nuclear power plant, which calls into question the international authority of both the IAEA and the UN. Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov stated this during an online meeting with international partners, heads of nuclear regulators of the leading countries of the world on 23 May 2024.

“The only opportunity to ensure nuclear and radiation safety at ZNPP is de-occupation and demilitarisation of the nuclear power plant, return of ZNPP under full control of the competent authorities of Ukraine, in accordance with the existing licences issued by the SNRIU. The only way to force russia to do this is through economic and political isolation, including the application of sanctions against the russian nuclear industry. It is also important that such a crime of the russian federation as an armed attack by the regular army and occupation of a peaceful nuclear facility of a neighbouring state does not go unpunished. The civilised world should draw the IAEA's attention to the need to develop a mechanism to hold accountable countries that violate the principles of nuclear safety and peaceful use of nuclear energy. And in this matter, dear colleagues, I really hope for your support, which you have repeatedly shown at all international platforms where the issue of Zaporizhzhya NPP and threats to nuclear and radiation safety posed by the full-scale war of the russian federation against Ukraine were considered”, SNRIU Chairman emphasized.

In response to a question from his colleagues about the probability of the occupants bringing ZNPP units to power levels, Oleh Korikov noted that such attempts would be another act of nuclear terror by russia.

“In recent months, the russian occupiers have made many statements that they plan to restart at least one of the ZNPP reactors. Also, the aggressor country's plans to build a booster pumping station for water supply to the NPP have been made public, which I am sure you have already read on the IAEA official website. I emphasise that the operation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP occupied by the russian federation at the current power levels is impossible in the current conditions, as it is very likely to lead to a radiation accident with transboundary consequences. The situation with the availability of qualified operating and repair personnel is critical: there is not a single specialist licensed by the SNRIU left at the ZNPP industrial site. Necessary maintenance and repairs of safety systems and safety-critical systems are not being carried out. As a result of shelling by the russian occupiers, two power lines that connect ZNPP to the Ukrainian power grid are periodically damaged. There is no reliable source of water supply - the Kakhovka Reservoir was lost as a result of the undermining of the Kakhovka Dam”, explained the head of the Ukrainian nuclear regulator.

The online meeting was attended by representatives of the European Commission, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV), the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA), the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of the Republic of Finland (STUK), the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland (PAA), the State Nuclear Safety Inspectorate of Lithuania (VATESI), the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), the State Office for Nuclear Safety of the Czech Republic (SUJB).