The European Union has warned that nuclear safety and security in Ukraine remains highly fragile and precarious, condemning Russia's continued military attacks on nuclear facilities and calling for unrestricted IAEA access to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). In a statement delivered on behalf of the EU at the IAEA Board of Governors on 10 June 2026, the EU expressed deep concern over findings in the Director General's latest report and over recent events, including a drone attack on the Chornobyl spent fuel storage facility and damage to the ZNPP turbine building on 30 May.
The statement, issued by the EEAS delegation in Vienna, reiterates the EU's full support for the IAEA's seven indispensable pillars for nuclear safety during armed conflict and the five principles for the ZNPP. The EU noted that the ZNPP has lost all off-site power twice in the past week and 18 times since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Since the end of March, the plant has relied on only one remaining external back-up power line after losing connection to the 750 kV Dniprovska line due to Russian military activities. The EU welcomed the Director General's efforts to achieve a sixth localized ceasefire for repairs but noted that recent events have affected its implementation.
The EU also condemned Russia's drone attack on the central spent fuel storage facility in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, which occurred two months after the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. The New Safe Confinement (NSC) at the site, constructed with significant international support including over EUR 423 million from the EU, was hit by a drone strike last year and suffered severe damage, losing its primary safety function. The EU stated that Russia must bear responsibility and provide compensation for the damage, which undermined decades of international efforts and investments exceeding EUR 2.1 billion.
On the ZNPP, the EU called on Russia to immediately release detained Ukrainian nuclear personnel and to grant the IAEA unrestricted and timely access to all requested locations, information, and personnel. The EU noted that despite repeated calls during the March Board, no progress has been achieved on the unlawful detention of ZNPP staff.
The statement also welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the IAEA and Ukraine to expand cooperation on nuclear safety, energy infrastructure resilience, and recovery and modernization of Ukraine's nuclear sector. The EU requested that the Director General continue to keep the Board regularly informed on nuclear safety developments in Ukraine, including missions to substations.
The statement was endorsed by candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, as well as EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, and San Marino.
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