The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly condemns the blocking by the Russian Federation of the rotation of experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

The Russian occupying forces also continue to actively militarize the ZNPP and the surrounding area, deploying military equipment and servicemen there.

The Russian Federation grossly violates the norms of international law, undermines the norms of nuclear and radiation safety, and also demonstrates complete disregard of the resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, which demand Russia to immediately withdraw its military equipment and personnel from the ZNPP.

If not stopped, Russia’s criminal actions at the Ukrainian nuclear facility could lead to a catastrophe, the scale of which was never known to Europe.

Moscow must immediately unblock the rotation of IAEA experts and ensure their immediate safe movement through the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the ZNPP.

The ongoing crimes of the Russian Federation against civilian nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the occupation of the ZNPP, obstruction of the work of the IAEA and threats to the lives of international experts, require an urgent international response.

We call on the international community to take immediate steps to expand sanctions against the Russian state corporation “Rosatom”, its affiliated companies and institutions, as well as other key players in Russia's nuclear energy sector. Separately, we emphasize the urgency of the complete termination of cooperation with the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear technologies, as well as the suspension of Russia's rights and privileges in the IAEA.

We count on the active and effective efforts of IAEA DG Raphael Grossi to counter the crimes of the Russian Federation.

The only possible way to restore nuclear safety and security in Europe is the immediate withdrawal of Russian military and Rosatom personnel from the ZNPP, its demilitarization and the restoration of Ukrainian control.