Ukraine tells UN: All military activity near nuclear facilities must stop immediately
Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko has stressed the urgent need to halt all military activity near nuclear facilities, warning that Russia's war against Ukraine poses serious risks of a nuclear catastrophe.
Source: Mishchenko speaking at an event at UN headquarters dedicated to nuclear safety and the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, as reported by Ukrinform
Details: Mishchenko said that Russia's war against Ukraine is creating unprecedented challenges for nuclear safety, including incidents in the area of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and ongoing threats to the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
He mentioned a deliberate Russian drone strike on the Chornobyl site, which had damaged the New Safe Confinement structure.
Quote: "All military actions near nuclear facilities must be immediately halted. Any damage to such facilities could undo decades of international efforts in the field of nuclear safety."
Details: Mishchenko emphasised that radiation risks do not respect borders and that the consequences of nuclear accidents are a shared responsibility of the international community.
He noted that the Chornobyl disaster laid the foundation for key international mechanisms in nuclear safety, including early warning systems and enhanced cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Mishchenko also highlighted the role of the UN and international partners in addressing the consequences of the disaster, monitoring radiation levels, providing medical and scientific support to affected regions and supporting long-term recovery.
He stressed that the Kremlin is seeking Ukraine's capitulation, but that Ukraine will never agree to this thanks to its armed forces, the resilience of its people and international solidarity.
Background:
- The Russians have conducted 155 attacks on substations in Ukraine that are critical for nuclear safety since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
- Ukraine signed an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on 26 April to provide €30 million to begin the first phase of restoring the protective structure at the Chornobyl NPP.
- Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the European Commission called on Russia to immediately stop all attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
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