Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine

In 2024, the Agency continued to closely monitor and report on the nuclear safety, security and safeguards situation in Ukraine while also providing technical support and assistance to help prevent a nuclear accident.

The Agency expanded its programme of assistance to Ukraine, taking a more proactive stance to help ensure the stability of critical energy infrastructure for the safe operation of the NPPs.

The Agency maintained the uninterrupted presence of its staff at nuclear sites in Ukraine (Zaporizhzhya, Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine nuclear power plants (NPPs) and the Chornobyl NPP site) and continued to use the Seven Pillars developed in 2022 to tailor an independent and impartial assessment of nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. At Zaporizhzhya NPP, Agency staff continued to monitor and report on the observance of the Five Principles established in 2023 for protecting the plant. In December 2024, for the first time since the armed conflict started, a drone hit and severely damaged an official Agency vehicle on the road to Zaporizhzhya NPP.

The Agency continued to provide other technical support and assistance to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities and activities involving radioactive sources in Ukraine by delivering nuclear safety- and security-related equipment, providing medical assistance for Ukrainian operating personnel, assisting with the radiation safety and nuclear security of radioactive sources, and helping to mitigate the consequences associated with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam.

The Agency continued to implement safeguards for Ukraine, including in-field verification activities, in accordance with Ukraine’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and additional protocol. On the basis of its evaluation of all safeguards relevant information available, the Agency did not find any indication giving rise to a proliferation concern.

Agency staff during a visit to the Dniprovska 750 kV substation, October 2024. (Photograph courtesy of Ukrenergo).

Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Urkaine

Two years of Agency presence at Zaporizhzhya NPP (publication)

Highlights in 2024:

Six public reports;

64 Director General updates and press releases;

86 Agency staff rotation missions, resulting in 179 person-months spent in Ukraine supporting nuclear safety and security;

Eight additional in-person missions supporting nuclear safety and security, two of them led by the Director General;

72 deliveries of nuclear safety- and security-related equipment amounting to €13.3 million;*

27 deliveries of medical equipment and supplies amounting to €1.26 million;

Five remote and in-person nuclear safety training events delivered for Ukrainian NPP staff;

18 remote training sessions and
1 three-day workshop in the area of mental health;

35 Ukrainian nuclear facilities under safeguards;

133 safeguards inspections conducted, 6 complementary accesses provided;

Total of 14.6 person-months performing safeguards activities in Ukraine.

* Includes in-kind contributions and equipment provided through partnerships.

In Focus 2024

Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine