IAEA warns of high risk of nuclear danger in Ukraine

The International Atomic Energy Agency has released a new statement on the state of nuclear safety in Ukraine.

Key points of the statement

• The IAEA states that the security of nuclear facilities remains under serious threat due to the military operations in Ukraine.

• The Agency calls for immediate and secure access to all Ukrainian NPPs and sites with increased radiation risk for monitoring, assessment and safety assurance.

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• The IAEA emphasises the need for international support and assistance in restoring the safety systems and infrastructure of the nuclear power industry, especially given the ongoing threats from the Russian Federation.

Why it matters

After three and a half years of full-scale war, constant attacks, shelling, destruction of power grids and external power outages pose an extraordinary risk to nuclear facilities - in particular, to the protection of reactors, cooling systems and nuclear fuel storage.

The IAEA has repeatedly recorded emergency incidents at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, such as power outages, damage to power lines, and threats to cooling systems.

What the IAEA is calling for

1. To provide unhindered access of inspectors to all nuclear facilities to assess their actual condition.

2. Provide international technical and financial assistance to restore and strengthen security systems.

3. Continuously monitor and report on the state of safety at nuclear facilities to avoid radiation incidents that could have large-scale consequences.

What it means for Ukraine and the world

The situation in Ukraine is under constant threat, and attacks on energy infrastructure are not just military strikes, but a potential nuclear threat. As the IAEA has been recording violations for a long time, the need for international intervention is becoming critical. In the absence of stable power supply or damage to cooling systems, the risk of a radiation disaster increases.

For Ukraine, this means that, in addition to military and humanitarian aid, it is important to engage international partners in ensuring nuclear safety.

For the world, this is a reminder that the war in Ukraine has not only a military and social dimension, but also an environmental and radiation dimension. The need for on-site monitoring and verification cannot be overestimated.