International Atomic Energy Agency Alarmed as Russia Takes Chernobyl Plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for “maximum restraint” to protect nuclear sites in Ukraine, following the news of fighting around Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident. 

“The IAEA is following the situation in Ukraine with grave concern and is appealing for maximum restraint to avoid any action that may put the country’s nuclear facilities at risk,” Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement today.

In line with its mandate, the global body, which promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy, said it is closely monitoring developments in Ukraine with a special focus on the safety and security of its nuclear power plants and other nuclear-related facilities.

The Ukraine regulatory body, the counterpart, has earlier informed the IAEA that it is maintaining communications with Ukraine’s operational nuclear power plants, which it said are operating safely and securely.

Regarding the situation at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine has informed the IAEA that “unidentified armed forces” have taken control of all facilities of the State Specialized Enterprise Chornobyl NPP, located within the Exclusion Zone. The counterpart added that there had been no casualties nor destruction at the industrial site. Director General Grossi said it is of vital importance that the safe and secure operations of the nuclear facilities in that zone should not be affected or disrupted in any way.

The Director General stressed that the IAEA General Conference – the annual gathering of all the organization’s Member States – adopted a decision in 2009 saying “any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency”.

The IAEA remains in permanent contact with its Ukrainian counterpart.

Russian view on take over of abandoned Chernobyl nuclear power plant 

Igor Konashenkov, an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry said, "On February 24, units of the Airborne Forces of Russia took full control of the territory in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant."

He said that an agreement was reached with the servicemen of a separate battalion of protection of the nuclear power plants of Ukraine on jointly ensuring the safety of the power units and the sarcophagus of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

"The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal. NPP personnel continue to service NPP facilities in normal mode and monitor the radioactive situation," Konashenkov said.

The Chernobyl NPP is located in Ukraine near the city of Pripyat, 18 km from the city of Chernobyl, 16 km from the border with Belarus and 110 km from Kiev.