Ukraine urges global action to strengthen protection of nuclear facilities

Ukraine’s parliament (Verkhovna Rada) has called on the international community to reinforce safeguards for the country’s nuclear power plants amid ongoing security risks.

On April 8, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Resolution No. 15133, marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, appealing to foreign governments, parliaments, the United Nations, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prevent violations of international nuclear safety standards, particularly by Russia. A total of 311 lawmakers voted in favour of the resolution, according to foreign media.

The document states that Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 led to the seizure of both the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants, creating serious risks to global security. It highlights that during the occupation of the Chernobyl plant, power outages and infrastructure damage occurred, while in 2025, a drone struck the protective confinement structure, potentially triggering a radiation incident.

The resolution emphasises that attacks on energy infrastructure and control over nuclear facilities pose a threat not only to Ukraine but to the entire world. It also notes that the current international nuclear safety system has proven unprepared for wartime challenges and requires significant improvement.

Ukraine is urging the international community to strengthen the protection of nuclear sites, support the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, assist in infrastructure restoration, and increase pressure on Russia. The document warns that a potential accident at the Zaporizhzhia plant could be ten times more dangerous than the Chernobyl disaster, with contamination potentially spreading across 2 million hectares—twice the size of Ukraine’s territory.

The resolution also mentions Russia’s plans to establish a special firefighting unit to “protect” the Zaporizhzhia plant. Experts warn that such a move could facilitate the transfer of personnel into other structures, including units of the Russian military.

By Jeyhun Aghazada