Chornobyl’s Shadow: EU condemns Russian aggression 40yrs after disaster

Forty years after the catastrophic Chornobyl Power Plant disaster, the European Union has issued a powerful statement condemning Russia’s actions
that undermine nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.

The statement, released by the High
Representative and the Commission, highlights the enduring legacy of the Chornobyl as a stark reminder of the critical need for transparency, robust safeguards, and international
cooperation in nuclear safety.

The Chornobyl disaster, long shrouded in Soviet secrecy, revealed its true toll over time, emphasizing the global imperative for stringent nuclear safety protocols.

However, the EU points to Moscow’s
“relentless strikes” on Chornobyl’s ‘New Safe Confinement’ as a direct threat to
decades of international investment and effort, amounting to €2.1 billion, aimed at mitigating the disaster’s consequences.

Further exacerbating the nuclear risk, Russia’s “illegal seizure and continued
occupation” of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, significantly endangers human life and environmental protection.

The statement also highlights Moscow’s “systematic attacks” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which jeopardize the stable power supply essential for the safe operation of nuclear facilities.
On this solemn anniversary, the EU urgently calls on Russia to “immediately cease all attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine” and to adhere to the “Seven Indispensable Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security during an armed conflict.”

The EU asserts that Russia will
be held accountable for endangering public safety, must compensate for damages, and is obligated to return full control of the Zaporizhzhia plant to Ukraine.

The European Union has a long-standing commitment to nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection in Ukraine, providing over €1 billion in financing.
It has been the largest donor to international funds managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) to ensure the environmental safety of the Chornobyl site.

This includes more than €423 million towards the construction of the New Safe Confinement and an additional €37 million last year through its Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation for urgent repairs.

The EU notes that an additional €500 million will be required for final repairs to the damage caused by Russian drone strikes while reaffirms its own dedication to highest global standards of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.

The Commission urges the international community to sustain and reinforce support for Ukraine, including efforts to repair the New Safe Confinement, to collectively consider enhanced protection for nuclear facilities, especially during wartime.
The upcoming G7 initiative in May to discuss Chornobyl site repairs is recognized as a crucial step.

Background:

The EU’s extensive support for nuclear safety in Ukraine includes over €1 billion in financing, making it largest contributor to EBRD-managed funds for Chornobyl’s
environmental safety.

The Commission’s role is to ensure Member States uphold the highest standards in nuclear safety, radiation protection, security, and non- proliferation.

It underpinned by a robust regulatory framework including the amended Nuclear Safety Directive 2014/87 Euratom, Basic Safety Standard Directive 2013/59 Euratom, and the Radioactive Waste Directive 2011/70/Euratom.