09/03/2022 15:26

Commissioner: Chernobyl - de-energized. Russia is grossly violating its international obligations in the nuclear field

As a result of damage to the grid by Russian militants, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and all nuclear facilities in the exclusion zone were left without electricity.

There are about 20,000 spent fuel assemblies in the facility.  They need constant cooling, which is possible only in the presence of electricity.

If not, the pumps do not cool.  As a result, the temperature in the holding pools will increase, there will be soaring and release of radioactive substances into the environment.

The radioactive cloud can be transferred by wind to other regions of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Europe.

Due to the lack of electricity, the ventilation at the facility is not working.  All personnel and all those present will receive a dangerous dose of radiation.

The fire extinguishing system also does not work.  This is a huge risk in the event of a fire that could result from a projectile.

Fighting is currently underway, making it impossible to carry out repairs and restore power.

Due to the absurd neglect of the security of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by the terrorist states, the whole world is now in danger of repeating the 1986 tragedy.

By its actions in Ukraine, the Russian Federation grossly violates the requirements of the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Hostile Use of Environmental Means and Article 56 of the 1977 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions and Other Acts Regulating International Nuclear Obligations.

I call on international partners and the IAEA to take all possible measures immediately to cease hostilities in the Russian Federation near high-risk facilities and to withdraw troops from the relevant territories.