Attachments
INTRODUCTION
On 24 February 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through its Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC), was notified by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), in its capacity as a national competent authority under the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, of the imposition of martial law on the territory of Ukraine and of an alert at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP). Since this information was received, the IAEA has activated the IEC, has established regular contact with Ukrainian authorities and has been closely monitoring the situation at nuclear facilities as well as activities involving radioactive sources on the territory of Ukraine, focusing on the implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
In accordance with established operational arrangements1 on reporting and information exchange that apply for situations in which prompt action is warranted to mitigate any adverse effects or situations of considerable media and public interest, the IAEA published relevant information on its 24/7 secure communication channel, the Unified System for Information Exchange in Incidents and Emergencies (USIE), and has been issuing daily public statements and updates regarding the situation concerning nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine. Through sharing such transparent, factual and authoritative information, the IAEA substantively responds to heightened media and public interest, supports public understanding and aims to counteract potential misinformation. This information shared by the IAEA includes its assessment of potential emergency consequences and the prognosis of possible emergency progression, where appropriate.
During an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on 2 March, the IAEA Director General called for restraint from all measures or actions that could jeopardize the security of nuclear and other radioactive material, and the safe operation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. On 3 March, the Board adopted a resolution on the safety, security and safeguards implications of the situation in Ukraine, which “deplores the Russian Federation’s actions in Ukraine”, expresses “grave concern that the Russian Federation’s aggression is impeding the Agency from fully and safely conducting safeguards verification activities”, and “requests that the Director General and the Secretariat continue to closely monitor the situation, with a special focus on the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities and report to the Board on these elements, as required”2
This report provides a summary of the situation in Ukraine regarding nuclear safety, security and safeguards of nuclear facilities and activities involving radioactive sources in Ukraine. It is based on information made available to the IAEA since the beginning of these unprecedented circumstances and consolidates information that the IAEA has been communicating to the public since 24 February, including actions taken by the IAEA in response to Ukraine’s request for assistance in re-establishing, as appropriate, a sound nuclear safety and security regime at its nuclear facilities and in activities involving radioactive sources. In addition, the report includes some initial findings of the IAEA expert missions led by the Director General to Ukraine in March and April 2022.
This report also summarizes relevant aspects of the implementation of safeguards in Ukraine under the Agreement Between Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Protocol Additional thereto under the current circumstances.