Within the framework of the events dedicated to the Nuclear Safety Day of the Kingdom of Sweden, which took place in Stockholm on 9-10 October 2024, the SNRIU delegation informed the participants about the experience of the Ukrainian nuclear and radiation safety regulatory authority under martial law. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, former Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine, representatives of the Swedish Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), NPP operators and other nuclear facilities of the Kingdom of Sweden, technical support organisations, NGOs and interested public of the country took part in the events dedicated to the Nuclear Safety Day of the Kingdom of Sweden.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Head of SNRIU - Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov in his presentation informed about the main threats to nuclear safety and security that arose as a result of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russia. Military actions and missile attacks against nuclear facilities in Ukraine, armed seizure and occupation of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe ZNPP by the aggressor country, destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure related to the safety of Ukrainian NPPs, recording of missile and drone flights over nuclear facilities are not a complete list of unprecedented threats to nuclear safety and security not only in Ukraine but also in the entire civilised world.
In such a situation, it is impossible to guarantee full compliance with international obligations under international conventions and agreements on safety, physical protection, nuclear non-proliferation safeguards, emergency preparedness, design basis threat, etc.
"The state of nuclear safety and security at ZNPP is extremely complicated. There is no reliable power supply from the Ukrainian power system: the power lines that survived the war are periodically damaged as a result of russian shelling. This puts both Ukraine and the entire civilised world on the brink of a complete blackout of the plant and a potential emergency with radioactive consequences. In addition, there is no proper water supply at ZNPP due to the destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir by the occupiers. The system of physical protection and emergency preparedness has been destroyed, and the ARMS system is blocked by the occupation administration. Equipment, safety systems and safety-critical systems are not being maintained and repaired in accordance with the regulations. Illegitimate and incompetent personnel are working at the plant", said Oleh Korikov.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation noted the importance of the IAEA permanent monitoring missions at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, including ZNPP, as well as the relevance and necessity of expanding the IAEA monitoring activities to electrical substations, the operation of which is critical for the safe operation of nuclear facilities at Ukrainian NPPs.
"Unfortunately, today there is no international legal mechanism to bring to justice a country that has committed a cynical violation of international law, principles and requirements of nuclear safety and peaceful use of nuclear energy. The development and implementation of such mechanisms is one of the main challenges for the international nuclear community. Without them, we cannot be sure that the crimes of the russian federation will be stopped and will not be repeated in the future", SNRIU Chairman emphasised.
Nataliia Rybalka, Director of the Department on Radiation Safety and Radioactive Waste Management, spoke about the SNRIU's experience in restoring regulatory control at nuclear energy facilities in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone after their de-occupation and the state of overcoming the consequences of hostile occupation in February-March 2022.
"In fact, for the first time, the Ukrainian regulator faced a situation when it was forced to suspend a number of licences of enterprises in the field of nuclear energy use and radioactive waste management in 2022. As a result of the russian occupation of the Chornobyl exclusion zone, which lasted from 24 February to 31 March 2024, bridges and roads were destroyed, and logistics routes for the delivery of equipment, spare parts, materials and personnel necessary for the safe operation of the facilities to the exclusion zone were disrupted. Measuring equipment, computer, office and server equipment, databases were damaged and stolen", Nataliia Rybalka said.
She added that after the de-occupation, the licensees took a set of measures to restore their performance and confirm their ability to carry out licensed activities in compliance with nuclear safety and security rules and regulations.
The process of restoring the operations of enterprises in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is ongoing, and a number of logistical and radiation safety issues for ChNPP and other enterprises' personnel still need to be resolved. We should not forget that 76 National Guardsmen who provided physical protection at ChNPP on the day of its military seizure still remain in enemy captivity.