Statement by the Republic of Lithuania on behalf of three Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania UN Security Council Meeting 4 March 2022, New York
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the ongoing Russian military aggression against Ukraine. It is a blatant violation of the international law and the UN Charter. It severely undermines the European and global security and stability.
The shelling and seizure of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site by the armed forces of the Russian Federation is a gross violation of international agreements within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If, at any point, the safety and security protocols at the Zaporizhzhya NPP and other nuclear sites in Ukraine is disturbed, this could cause radioactive damage across large territories and have irreparable consequences for Europe's environment. Thousands of people – including civilians who are currently unable to evacuate the area near the plant due to ongoing shelling and fighting - would be hurt by this.
In the course of the military advancement, Russian troops also took control over the Chornobyl NPP. It’s been several days already that the NPP staff has had difficulties to perform their critically important duties – to operate, monitor and maintain the site ensuring its nuclear safety and security and radiological protection. This is an extremely serious violation of the conventions on nuclear safety and IAEA Safety Standards.
Military aggression also poses threat to other civilian nuclear installations in Ukraine. There are 15 nuclear reactors operating in Ukraine. Also, there are other nuclear and radioactive installations such as spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive waste storage and disposal sites. Any one of them at any moment can come under attack or be damaged by accident. The European continent is as close as ever to the brink of a humanitarian and ecological catastrophe.
Safety arrangements around NPPs are needed immediately, as well as humanitarian corridors from Russian army controlled or shelled areas. We demand that all parties fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population, and civilian objects, refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.
Under the circumstances of war, Ukraine might not be able to fulfil its obligations in full scope, therefore, we encourage the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to assume a proactive role and exercise its powers to raise maximum awareness and to mitigate the imminent nuclear safety and security hazards in Ukraine. We welcome the decision of the IAEA to put its Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) in full response mode due to the situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP. We hear about the readiness of the IAEA authorities to go to the Chornobyl NPP and facilitate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia regarding the safety of nuclear facilities.
We find it extremely important that Ukraine gets IAEA assistance to also monitor the situation in Chornobyl NPP, including its exclusion zone, and also in other nuclear installations in Ukraine outside of government control. In this regard, the creation of the international task force under the auspices of the IAEA might be considered, if needed. We thank the Ukrainian nuclear regulator for its important work and regular updates from the ground.
We call on immediate international response to Russia’s nuclear security violations. We commend the quick response from the IAEA and encourage the IAEA to continue these efforts. The actions of the Russian Federation must be duly assessed against the relevant provisions of international law in order to hold the Russian Federation accountable. We strongly request the Agency to perform the mentioned assessment and to submit it to the IAEA Board of Governors. We call on Russia to withdraw its armed forces from the nuclear power plant and to allow to create a safety zone.
We demand for all parties to allow for safe and unfettered passage to destinations outside of Ukraine and facilitate the rapid, safe, and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine.
This is the largest Nuclear Power Plant in Europe. Russia with its aggression threatens the peace and security globally. An attack on a nuclear reactor can threaten human life on large scale, and can have devastating environmental, and, moreover, human consequences.
We call on the Russian Federation to cease its attacks immediately, and abide by the UN General Assembly resolution titled “Aggression against Ukraine” supported by 141 states at the 11th emergency special session.
I thank you.
