Ahead of the Chernobyl anniversary, France warned of nuclear risks stemming from Russia’s war against Ukraine
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement on the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, emphasizing that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure pose a threat to Europe’s nuclear safety.
This is stated in a statement by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Officials in Paris emphasized that the systematic shelling of Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure could have serious radiological consequences and poses risks of large-scale incidents.
“Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, France reaffirms its support for the victims of this accident and pays tribute to the heroic courage of those who worked to overcome its consequences,” the French Foreign Ministry stated.
French diplomats also emphasized that strikes on nuclear safety facilities, particularly following the attack on the Chernobyl containment structure in 2025, increase the risk of new threats.
The ministry noted that France, which will chair the G7 in 2026, is ready to support the restoration of the protective arch over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and to contribute to the necessary funding.
Russian strikes on the protective shell of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant are extremely irresponsible actions that jeopardize international efforts to mitigate the consequences of the disaster. At the same time, the illegal seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant significantly increases risks to human life and the environment.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu arrived in Ukraine on April 26. The visit includes planned talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as a trip to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called on the international community to increase pressure on Russia and impose sanctions against the state-owned corporation Rosatom.
