Ukraine calls for Russia's removal from IAEA governing board

"A state that deliberately undermines nuclear safety cannot fully participate in the governing bodies of the IAEA," Shmyhal noted.

According to Shmyhal, Russia has systematically and deliberately targeted electrical substations that provide external power supply to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, "undermining one of the IAEA’s seven pillars of nuclear safety."

Situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

The minister also highlighted the situation at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has completely lost external power supply 12 times during the years of Russia’s full-scale war.

"We urged member states to impose comprehensive sanctions on Rosatom and to limit cooperation with the company in all possible areas. We raised the issue of suspending Russia’s membership in the IAEA Board of Governors and discussed the intention to initiate amendments to the IAEA Statute to restrict the rights of the aggressor state," Shmyhal said.

He stressed that the time has come to "introduce real accountability for acts of aggression that undermine nuclear safety."

Zaporizhzhia NPP under occupation

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been under Russian occupation since March 2022. During this period, Russia has repeatedly attempted to legitimize its control over the facility in violation of international law.

Recent actions by Russia’s nuclear regulator, Rostekhnadzor, are being viewed as another manifestation of nuclear blackmail, further increasing security threats to the region and the world.

In January, the IAEA reached an agreement with Ukraine and Russia on a temporary ceasefire near the Zaporizhzhia plant, allowing repairs to the facility’s last backup power transmission line. Repair work began on January 18.