Ukraine calls for changes to international nuclear safety rules due to the threat of war

Ukraine is proposing that the International Atomic Energy Agency update international nuclear safety standards to take into account military threats and scenarios involving the occupation of nuclear facilities.

This was reported by Energoatom.

The company stated that current IAEA standards and the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons do not account for situations where civilian nuclear facilities come under armed occupation or become targets during wartime.

Ukrainian experts propose strengthening the provisions of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and creating a separate international mechanism to protect civilian nuclear facilities during wartime.

The relevant proposals have already been submitted to the working document of the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which is taking place in New York.

Energoatom emphasized that Ukraine’s experience, particularly the situation surrounding the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, must be taken into account when shaping a new international nuclear safety architecture.

The IAEAwarns of an increased risk of a nuclear disaster. 

The Zaporizhzhia NPP has recordedits 15th blackout since the start of the occupation.