Menendez Calls on the IAEA to Ensure Oversight of Ukrainian Nuclear Facilities Under Russian Occupation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to work to secure Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and assets as the Russian military destroys and occupies areas in and around Ukrainian nuclear facilities. In a letter to Director General Grossi, Chairman Menendez underscored the growing danger of Russian military recklessness near Ukrainian nuclear power plants and raised concerns about the looting, transfer, and transport of nuclear material back to Russia.

“The Russian military’s blatant disregard for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) ‘seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security’ exposes the international community to unforeseen nuclear threats and represents President Putin’s disregard for human life and the well-being of the citizens of Ukraine and his own people,” Chairman Menendez wrote. “As we have learned from nuclear disasters of the past, the effects are lasting, irreversible, and result in the loss of life, habitats and ecosystems, and precious societies located near nuclear facilities.”

Find a copy of the letter HERE and below.

Dear Director General Grossi,

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine poses a direct threat to the safety and security of Ukraine, the broader European community, and the world. The Russian military’s blatant disregard for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) “seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security” exposes the international community to unforeseen nuclear threats and represents President Putin’s disregard for human life and the well-being of the citizens of Ukraine and his own people. As we have learned from nuclear disasters of the past, the effects are lasting, irreversible, and result in the loss of life, habitats and ecosystems, and precious societies located near nuclear facilities. I am writing to ask that the IAEA take decisive actions to mitigate the risks from the Russian Federation army’s incursion, attacks, and occupation of Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants, national nuclear labs, and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. 

It is imperative that the IAEA works to prevent the Russian military from disrupting and sabotaging Ukraine’s power facilities. In addition, it is vital the IAEA prevents the removal and transport of Ukrainian nuclear fuel and equipment back to Russia. I support your efforts to negotiate “an agreed framework to preserve nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.” As negotiations are ongoing, I urge the IAEA to:

1. Establish a special task force to monitor actions of Russian Federation forces and personnel occupying Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities.
2. Issue a more forceful statement condemning the Russian Federation’s activity noting the risks and expense associated with the Russian Federation’s actions at Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities and calling for verifiable assurance that the Russian Federation’s occupation of these facilities is maintaining the effectiveness of existing safety regimes.
3. Present recommendations to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for appropriate punitive action(s) to be imposed by the UNSC on the Russian Federation in the event that the Russian military or Russian operatives, remove and transport Ukrainian nuclear material, technological components, or inputs from any Ukrainian nuclear facilities and labs for use in Russian nuclear facilities, labs, or infrastructure or any transfer of such stolen assets.
4. Conduct an audit of nuclear material in possession of the Russian Federation to verify that none of that material is sourced from (stolen) a Ukrainian nuclear power facility.

Thank you for your consideration of and work to implement these three actions to prevent nuclear disaster in Ukraine. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

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