Statement on the occasion of the IAEA Board of Governors on behalf of the Republic of Estonia by H.E. Ambassador Merle Pajula
Vienna, 9-13 September 2024
Agenda item: Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine
Mister Chair,
Estonia fully aligns itself with the statement of the European Union (delivered earlier by the distinguished representative of Hungary). I would like to add some additional remarks in my national capacity.
Estonia condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine. It is a grave violation of international law, including the principles of the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute. Russia is solely responsible for having put the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities at grave risk and continues to cause immense human suffering to the Ukrainian population. Russia’s deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and on civilians are war crimes.
Russia’s missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure directly endanger the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. We demand Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all its troops, military equipment, and all personnel, including that of Rosatom, from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. We also condemn the continued voluntary involvement of Iran, the DPRK and Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine.
Mister Chair,
We thank Director General Grossi and his team for the tireless efforts to monitor the observance of the seven pillars and five principles to help ensure nuclear safety and security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Europe´s biggest nuclear power plant that for over two and a half years has been illegally seized by Russia, rendering it unable to produce electricity and subjecting it to worsening nuclear safety and security conditions. Regardless of Russia´s attempts to convince us otherwise – the ZNPP belongs to Ukraine. No number of Russia´s lies will change a fact, that has been confirmed by UN General Assembly resolutions and resolutions of this Board.
During the reporting period the ZNPP continued to face challenges related to the number of available off-site power lines and their disconnection following Russian military activities. The plant also faced challenges regarding the availability of cooling water, ensuring adequate staffing, ensuring adequate and timely preventative maintenance of all systems important to safety, and maintaining reliable supply chains. Each of these challenges presents potential risks to the nuclear safety and security of the plant.
The situation at the ZNPP continues to be precarious, with all Seven Pillars being compromised fully or partially. Russia still imposes restrictions on the timely and appropriate access of the IAEA team to all the locations of relevance to nuclear safety and security in ZNPP as well as on having open discussions with all relevant staff at the ZNPP. This is completely unacceptable. There can be no restrictions on the Agency in ensuring nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.
Let me reiterate that only Ukrainian personnel are licensed employees at the ZNPP. All other personnel are occupying forces endangering the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. Returning the ZNPP to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities is the only lasting solution to minimise the risk of a nuclear accident. The nuclear safety and security risks will persist as long as Russia continues its war and its illegal seizure of the ZNPP.
We thank the Director General Grossi, and the IAEA experts stationed at the ZNPP and other nuclear plants in Ukraine, for their courageous work and assistance to Ukraine, as well as for the agreement to expand IAEA monitoring to key Ukrainian sub-stations, critical for nuclear safety. We encourage further regular briefings and reporting to the Board on these matters as the situation in ZNPP continues to degrade.
Estonia strongly supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We call for the immediate return of the ZNPP to Ukraine’s control and urge Russia to immediately and completely withdraw its forces from the entirety of Ukraine. We will continue to support Ukraine until victory.
Thank you, Mister Chair.