Ukraine proposes amending IAEA statute in response to Russia’s actions
Photo: Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine has proposed stripping countries that undermine the safe use of nuclear energy of their right to participate in IAEA decision-making, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Twitter (X).
Read also: Russia scouting Ukrainian nuclear facilities for attacks – Zelenskyy
The Foreign Minister noted that the IAEA statute does not provide for a response to actions by countries that deliberately undermine the safe use of nuclear energy. These countries continue to exercise their governance rights within the agency fully.
"Ukraine proposes a clear mechanism of disqualification from IAEA decision-making in such cases," he clarified.
According to Andrii Sybiha, this is not about politics, but about trust, safety, and fairness.
The minister instructed Ukraine’s mission in Vienna to submit these proposals to the IAEA Secretariat and share them with member states.
Russian threat to nuclear power plants
A few weeks ago, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported that Russia is considering attacks on strategic energy system facilities — specifically, power transmission substations that support the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
Moscow’s goal is to disconnect power units from the unified energy system, leaving civilians without electricity and heating during the winter. In this way, the Kremlin seeks to force Ukraine to sign surrender demands to end the war.
According to HUR, as of mid-January 2025, Russia had already conducted reconnaissance of ten relevant critical infrastructure sites across nine regions of Ukraine.
