On 4 March, three years will have passed since the Russian Federation, in the course of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacked and seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – the largest nuclear facility in Europe.  

The Russian assault and subsequent occupation of the ZNPP are unprecedented in global history and have placed the entire world at risk of a nuclear disaster. This aggression forms part of Russia’s broader strategy of the unlawful appropriation of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, which began with the seizure of the research reactor in Sevastopol in 2014 and continued with the attempted occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant at the outset of the full-scale invasion in 2022.  

For three years, the Zaporizhzhia NPP has remained under illegal Russian control. This situation presents an immediate threat to global nuclear safety and poses an extraordinary challenge to the international non-proliferation regime. For the first time in history, a nuclear power plant under IAEA safeguards is being operated not by its legitimate operator but by an aggressor state, creating an unprecedented scenario for the entire international community.  

As a direct consequence of the occupation, Ukraine has lost regulatory control over the ZNPP, which constitutes a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Simultaneously, this situation has triggered a profound crisis in the field of nuclear energy. If an aggressor state is permitted to seize nuclear facilities with impunity, use them as instruments of blackmail, and undermine their safety, then the entire global nuclear security architecture is under threat. The international community must draw the necessary conclusions and act decisively.  

The Russian Federation persistently seeks to conceal its crimes, legitimize the occupation of the plant, and spread disinformation, particularly through the state corporation “Rosatom.”  

Ukraine calls upon its international partners to take concrete measures that constitute a clear and resolute response to Russia’s nuclear blackmail.  

First and foremost, sanctions against “Rosatom” must be significantly expanded, and all cooperation with this entity in the civilian nuclear sector must be terminated in full. Any support for this corporation today directly contributes to nuclear blackmail.  

Secondly, the IAEA must adopt a firmer stance and unequivocally acknowledge that its mission at the ZNPP is operating under conditions of illegal occupation. The Agency should utilise all available mechanisms to increase pressure on Russia and insist on the withdrawal of Russian military forces and personnel from the plant, as the actions of the aggressor state grossly violate the norms and principles of the IAEA.  

The Zaporizhzhia NPP, like any other nuclear facility located within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders, must be operated solely by its legitimate owner – Ukraine. The actions of the occupying administration contradict the principles that the IAEA has promoted globally for over 60 years: the independent, safe and lawful use of nuclear energy.  

Thirdly, Russia’s unlawful control of the ZNPP poses an imminent threat to nuclear safety and security. Critical operations such as reactor start-ups or fuel reloads fall exclusively within the competence of the plant’s legitimate operator – Ukraine. Any attempts by Russia to impose its own procedures and make decisions on behalf of the ZNPP are illegitimate and endanger nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, across Europe and around the world.  

The restoration of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine’s sovereign control is not only essential for energy stability but is also integral to ensuring reliable security and peace.  

We once again emphasise: Russia must immediately withdraw its forces from the ZNPP, cease its nuclear blackmail, and stop attempting to mislead the international community. The Zaporizhzhia NPP is a Ukrainian facility, and its full return to Ukraine’s control is a matter of global security.