National Atomic Energy Agency

The resolution was passed with 26 votes in favour, 2 against (Russia and China) and 7 abstentions.

The Board of Governors:

• Calls upon the Russian Federation to immediately cease all actions against, and at, the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and any other nuclear facility in Ukraine, in order for the competent Ukrainian authorities to regain full control over all nuclear facilities within Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, to ensure their safe and secure operation, and in order for the Agency to fully and safely conduct its safeguards verification activities;
• Expresses grave concern that the Russian Federation has not heeded the call of the Board to immediately cease all actions against and at nuclear facilities in Ukraine expressed in the resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on 3 March 2022;
• Deplores the Russian Federation’s persistent violent actions against nuclear facilities in Ukraine, and the ongoing presence of Russian forces and Rosatom personnel at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, which continue to pose serious and direct threats to the safety and security of these facilities and their civilian personnel, thereby significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident or incident.
• Noting with concern the Director General’s Second Summary Report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine of 6 September on the situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

A draft resolution was adopted at the request of Poland and Canada. The Board of Governors has been deliberating since Monday, 12 September. Poland was represented by Ambassador Dr Dominika Krois, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations Office in Vienna and Dr Łukasz Młynarkiewicz, President of the National Atomic Energy Agency. This is the second resolution adopted by the most important body of the IAEA at the request of Poland and Canada. The BG adopted the previous resolution during an extraordinary meeting in Vienna at the IAEA headquarters earlier this year, in March.

The resolution is a response of international community to the report published on 6 September on the state of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhya NPP. The report originated after the IAEA carried out their expert mission to the Zaporizhzhya NPP. IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi calls to establish a safety zone around the NPP. Grossi repeatedly emphasised that the Zaporizhzhya NPP, in consequence of the actions of Russian Federation, all seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security had already been put at risk.

The Seven Pillars are:

1. The physical integrity of the facilities – whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores – must be maintained;
2. All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times;
3. The operating staff must be able to fulfil their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure;
4. There must be secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites;
5. There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites;
6. There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures; and
7. There must be reliable communications with the regulator and others