By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) initiates deprivation of Russia’s rights and privileges in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to the inspectorate’s website.
"The head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate [Oleh Korikov] proposed to work out a consolidated position on submitting the issue on the deprivation of Russia’s rights and privileges in the IAEA for consideration by the Board of Governors and the convening of an extraordinary General Conference of the Agency," the message says.
According to the SNRIU, Korikov came up with such an initiative on November 1 during a regular online meeting with representatives of the European Commission, the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), the Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association (WENRA), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the IAEA. The meeting was devoted to discussing topical issues of nuclear safety in the context of the war and Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhia NPP.
"During the online meeting, Oleh Korikov informed international partners that, despite the adopted Resolution of the UN General Assembly ES-11/4, the Resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors ‘Safety, Security and Safeguards: implications of the situation in Ukraine’ and the constant presence of IAEA experts at ZNPP, the Russian invaders continue to use means of force and psychological pressure on personnel and the practice of illegal interference in the technological process of operating nuclear installations," the regulator noted.
In particular, on October 14, 2022, the Russian occupation units began construction of an unknown facility at the ZNPP dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. This is an illegal interference in the design of a nuclear installation, a disregard for fundamental safety principles, a gross violation of national and international laws, rules and regulations, the inspectorate stressed.
"These facts are evidence that Russia continues to attempt to appropriate nuclear installations and nuclear material of Ukraine, ignoring the decisions, resolutions and recognition by international organizations – the UN and the IAEA, of which Russia is still considered a member – of the unconditional fact that the Zaporizhia NPP is a Ukrainian nuclear power plant and the only legal operating organization is Energoatom," the SNRIU said.
