Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine on behalf of a group of states and in its national capacity at the UNGA annual debate under agenda item 89 “Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency”

delivered by Permanent Representative of Ukraine

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Andrii Melnyk

(29 October 2025)

Madam President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and my own country, Ukraine.

We welcome today’s consensus on the Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency” (IAEA), which reaffirms strong support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technical cooperation and in nuclear safety, verification, security and safeguards.

Madam President,

We condemn in the strongest terms the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of international law, including the UN Charter.

Underlining due priority to nuclear safety, we also strongly condemn Russia's continued indiscriminate attacks, killing civilians and destroying civilian objects, including critical energy infrastructure.

We recall the IAEA Director-General’s “seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security in an armed conflict” and his “Five Concrete Principles for protecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)”. 

Russia’s continued seizure and control of Ukraine’s ZNPP, including the presence of armed troops and military equipment, as reported by the Agency, compromises the IAEA Director General’s “seven indispensable pillars” and puts the implementation of the “Five concrete principles for protecting ZNPP” at risk. It has led to the plant’s ongoing technical degradation and continues to present serious nuclear safety and security risks to the broader region.

We are deeply concerned by the nuclear safety and security risks posed to all Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants by the vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s electricity grid resulting from Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This includes disconnection of Ukraine’s ZNPP from its last external power supply, which lasted for a month, until 23 October, posing a significant challenge for nuclear safety. We are also alarmed by the damage arising from the 14 February 2025 drone strike against the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, built with international effort to prevent the release of radioactive contaminants in the environment.

We firmly reject any attempts to consider the restart of the reactors at Ukraine’s ZNPP, which would be inconsistent with well-established nuclear safety principles. Moreover, any attempt by the Russian Federation to restart the ZNPP would contradict the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, and General Conference, and the UN General Assembly and would be wholly unacceptable. Any restart of the reactors at the ZNPP can only take place once the facility has been returned to the legitimate control and oversight of Ukraine’s competent regulatory authority.

Madam President, 

We support the continued physical presence of IAEA experts at Ukraine’s ZNPP in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The safety and security of the Agency staff remain of paramount importance. We commend the courage and professionalism of the IAEA staff operating under unprecedented challenges and reiterate the importance of allowing the safe passage of IAEA experts to and from the ZNPP duly on time.

We reiterate our demand that the Russian Federation urgently withdraw its military and other personnel from Ukraine’s ZNPP and immediately return the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine to ensure its safety and security. This will enable the IAEA to conduct safe, efficient, and effective safeguards implementation in accordance with Ukraine’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and Additional Protocol, consistent with the calls by the UN General Assembly, IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors resolutions.

We reiterate that the release of the unlawfully detained Ukrainian ZNPP personnel by the occupying Russian authorities remains not only a humanitarian imperative — it is a precondition for restoring basic trust and operational safety at the site.

We express our support for the Agency’s continued provision of technical support and assistance to Ukraine to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities, including the continued physical presence of IAEA technical experts at the Chornobyl, Rivne, Khmelnytskyy, and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants.

We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, and urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces and other personnel from the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

We reiterate our unwavering support for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, based on international law, including the UN Charter.

Madam President, Director-General Grossi,

Ukraine’s delegation would also like to make some additional remarks in our national capacity.

Nuclear facilities must never be instruments of aggression.

They must never be occupied, weaponized, or used for coercion.

Russia’s ongoing seizure and militarization of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is the most dangerous violation of these principles in the nuclear age.

Under occupation and military pressure, this power plant has been forced into single-point-of-failure conditions.

The plant has endured repeated total losses of off-site power, most recently on 23 September 2025.

Although the 750 kV line was restored on 23 October 2025, real safety requires redundancy across all damaged connections, verified access for repairs, and predictable windows free from attack.

Madam President,

Ukraine has consistently met its obligations under nuclear safety, nuclear security, and safeguards at all sites under our control, including full cooperation with the IAEA and a permanent Agency presence at Ukrainian facilities.

We are grateful for the IAEA’s continuous work on the ground and for the technical assistance and political support from many Member States.

Ukraine’s vision remains a modern and resilient nuclear sector that supports recovery and clean growth, including new builds and small modular reactors, once full security is restored.

But none of this is possible while a nuclear plant is occupied and weaponized.

With strong ambition to tackle the problem as soon as possible with the instruments at hand, Ukraine has presented a detailed Roadmap for the temporary transfer of the ZNPP under international control.

The Roadmap is based on the IAEA’s Five Principles.

It is realistic and technically sound, and offers the only credible framework to mitigate immediate nuclear risks while remaining fully aligned with international legal standards.

What we propose is temporary IAEA stewardship of the ZNPP.

It will shape a transitional arrangement to have all Russian military and unauthorized personnel leave the site, and the IAEA take temporary technical and physical control of the plant.

Our appeal to this Assembly is direct and forward-looking – together, we shall move from reacting to acting.

There will not be a safe future where Russia permanently runs a Ukrainian nuclear plant taken by force and outside proper regulation.

Between an impossible “instant handback” and a reckless “wait and hope,” the IAEA stewardship is the only workable bridge.

Until that happens, all Member States must refuse recognition of any licenses, data, declarations, or operating decisions issued under occupation, and refrain from any technical or commercial engagement with Rosatom related to the ZNPP.

This is a necessary measure to uphold the integrity of the safeguards system and to deter further violations.

Madam President,

Ukraine stands ready to do its part.

We will continue to facilitate the IAEA’s presence.

We will continue to meet our obligations under international law.

We will continue to work with partners to build a safer, cleaner, and more resilient nuclear future for our people and for all who rely on the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.

What prevents the same assurance at the ZNPP is the occupation itself.

The sooner the occupation ends, the faster the world eliminates the risk.

Thank you, Madam President.