There can be no “business as usual” with Russia in nuclear sphere – FM Sybiha

Ukraine is calling on the international community to end Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and the nuclear risks it poses.

This was stated by Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, on social media platform X on the fourth anniversary of the occupation of the ZNPP, according to Ukrinform.

He emphasized that Russia has turned the plant into a military base, holding not only Ukraine but all of Europe and the world hostage to its nuclear terrorism. He also described current Kremlin plans to restart reactors under occupation as dangerous and unlawful.

“We urge the IAEA and the entire international community to make every effort to put an end to Russian occupation and the nuclear risks it entails. To exclude the threat of a nuclear catastrophe, the plant must be demilitarized and returned to its lawful owner and operator, Ukraine,” the minister said.

Sybiha stressed that there can be no “business as usual” in nuclear energy sphere with Russia while it continues creating unacceptable risks to nuclear safety, including the occupation of the ZNPP and ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear energy system.

He also warned international officials against normalizing nuclear terrorism by participating in Moscow-sponsored events and repeated Ukraine’s call for sanctions against Rosatom.

Additionally, Ukraine continues to demand the immediate release of plant personnel unlawfully detained by Russian occupiers: Serhii Korzh, Serhii Potynh, and at least 33 other ZNPP employees.

“Russian criminals must be held accountable for systemic torture, intimidation, and arbitrary detention of civilians at the station and in the city of Enerhodar, as well as their occupation of the ZNPP,” Sybiha added.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, Energoatom stated in January that Russian forces at the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had set up a drone launch site targeting Ukraine, which constitutes a severe violation of nuclear safety norms.