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Comment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Russia's misuse of the IAEA for propaganda and the whitewashing of "Rosatom's" crimes

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

26 September 2025 15:23

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the so-called "celebrations" organized by the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of its nuclear industry as nothing more than a sham political spectacle, designed to manipulate the information space and to whitewash Russia's crimes in the sphere of nuclear and radiation safety.

Against the background of Russia's ongoing illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), such "festivities" are especially cynical and deeply offensive.

Of particular concern is Russia's exploitation of the visit of the IAEA Director General to the Russian Federation in connection with this event. Moscow has deliberately instrumentalized the Agency's leadership for its propaganda purposes.

Ukraine views the IAEA exclusively as a mechanism to prevent nuclear risks and insists that the Agency uphold the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and independence without exception.

The State Corporation "Rosatom," which staged the "celebrations," is an inseparable part of Russia's military-industrial machine and a direct tool of occupation of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, above all the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

The criminal interference of Russian occupiers in the functioning of the seized plant poses a direct and immediate threat to nuclear safety in Ukraine, across Europe, and beyond. This constitutes not only a flagrant violation of the IAEA's core principles but also a gross breach of fundamental norms of international humanitarian law.

These so-called "festivities" involving the IAEA Director General took place at the very moment when the human rights organization Truth Hounds released its investigation "Seizing Power", which documents Rosatom's role in managing the occupied ZNPP site and in systematic torture, abuse, and persecution of civilians, including plant employees.

Ukraine demands that Rosatom immediately end any interference in the ZNPP's operations, release all unlawfully detained personnel, and stop exerting pressure on staff, in full compliance with Principle 3 of the IAEA's "Seven Indispensable Pillars."

Ukraine values the IAEA's technical presence at Ukrainian nuclear sites, including the ZNPP, and will continue to engage constructively with the Agency strictly within its mandate.

At the same time, we categorically reject any attempts to legitimize Russia's illegal occupation of Ukrainian facilities through contacts between international institutions and Russian entities.

Ukraine calls on international partners to deliver a stronger, united response to Rosatom's malign activities: to isolate the corporation from international nuclear platforms, terminate joint projects, halt new contracts, block the transfer of technologies and dual-use goods, impose sweeping sanctions on Rosatom, its subsidiaries, and leadership, and restrict imports that fuel its operations.

The only path to mitigating risks is the full restoration of the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine's sovereign control, the release of all unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens, and the complete termination of Rosatom's involvement in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.