The First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to implement full international isolation of the Russian Federation, as well as to impose sanctions and suspend its membership in the organization. He emphasized the necessity of such steps after discussing the situation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and hearing reports from the heads of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and agency missions.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Attacks on the energy system and danger to nuclear safety
Denys Shmyhal stressed that the recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, particularly key substations, as well as instances of drone and missile transit over the territories of nuclear power plants, are “signs of nuclear terrorism” according to international conventions. He highlighted that Russia’s actions pose a global threat and contradict the main objectives of the IAEA.
“At the end of January, there will be another meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, convened at Ukraine’s request. The agency must raise the issue of full international isolation of Russia and the suspension of its rights as a member state, whose actions threaten global catastrophe and contradict the very purpose of the IAEA,” Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.
IAEA meeting and international community response
The minister also urged the IAEA to address the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly to inform them about Russia’s violations of nuclear and radiation safety norms, as well as to initiate the implementation of international sanctions.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha clarified that the extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors will take place on January 30 in Vienna. Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported on significant military activity on January 20, which affected the operation of several substations critical for ensuring nuclear safety.
The IAEA did not specify which side was conducting the shelling, but confirmed that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant lost all external power supply, and power lines to other nuclear power plants were damaged. Subsequently, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reported the restoration of electricity supply to the Chernobyl NPP.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is trying to harm Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia is considering the possibility of striking at nuclear power plant substations to force Ukraine to sign capitulation conditions to end the war.