The delegation of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, which represented Ukraine at the 53rd plenary meeting of the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), held on November 20, 2023, in Brussels (Belgium), called on European partners for international isolation of the russian federation as a country that shamefully violates international standards, principles of nuclear safety and resorted to criminal nuclear blackmail of the world community. The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Acting SNRIU Chairman, Chief State Inspector for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Ukraine Oleh Korikov, emphasized the need to isolate the aggressor country during his report.
“Shelling of an operating nuclear power plant, an armed seizure of nuclear power plants, the transformation of nuclear power plants into a military base, where military equipment, weapons, explosives are stored, the destruction of the Kakhovka reservoir, which was the main source of water supply for the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, pressure and persecution of Ukrainian licensed personnel, inability to carry out maintenance and repair of equipment and systems as a result of the occupation, which is important for safety, operation of Zaporizhzhya NPP reactor units by the occupiers contrary to the conditions of licenses, issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine - this is not a complete list of those crimes, which is committed by the russian federation on the Ukrainian ZNPP”, said the head of the Ukrainian delegation.
“The Russian occupation of ZNPP has led to a total degradation of emergency preparedness and response system, the destruction of the physical protection system, logistics, the lack of spare parts and materials, and serious degradation of equipment. This is nothing but blackmail. And the answer to nuclear blackmail, which the aggressor country resorts to, can only be a consolidated and principled position of the entire civilized world. And this position should consist in the international isolation of the russian federation, the termination of any cooperation with it in the field of nuclear energy”, said Oleh KORIKOV.
He also stressed the need to review the issue of limiting the rights and privileges of the russian federation in international institutions, such as the IAEA, and the consideration by the IAEA Board of Governors of the state of implementation of the resolution of the IAEA General Conference GC (67)/RES/16 and resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors GOV/2022/17, GOV/2022/58, GOV/2022/71.
In addition, The SNRIU Chairman expressed gratitude to the member countries of ENSREG and their nuclear regulators for their consistent and unchanged position on the war of the russian federation against Ukraine, understanding and supporting that both Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian nuclear facilities should be demilitarized and de-occupied.
For reference:
ENSREG, the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group, is an independent authoritative expert group consisting of representatives of EU member states and the European Commission with the aim of continuous improvement and mutual understanding in the areas of nuclear safety and radioactive waste management.
ENSREG member countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden.
The SNRIU participation in ENSREG meetings is important for Ukraine, as it allows informing European partners about the situation with nuclear and radiation safety in our country, risks and threats arising from a full-scale invasion. Such activities are aimed at forming a consensus position among European regulators and most EU countries in support of Ukraine.