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Statement on behalf of the Baltic States at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday, 11 August 2022.

The three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – welcomes this Security Council meeting to address the unprecedented nuclear risk caused by Russia’s military presence and its irresponsible actions in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

As we are nearing the seventh month of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we reiterate our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Russia’s deliberate and unprovoked war. Such unjustified invasion of its peaceful neighbor has grossly violated international law, undermined global security and even shook the foundations upon which the United Nations were built. Russia must be held accountable for its illegal actions.

At present, Russia’s military actions are threatening to create a yet another – nuclear – disaster. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been occupied by Russian military since March. Since then there have been constant reports of Russia’s military presence and reckless military operations carried out from the Nuclear Power Plant, as well as reports of intimidation and abuse against its staff. Recently, even reports of shelling by the Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia NPP have emerged.

It would be an understatement to say that shelling and occupation of a nuclear power plant is unprecedented. Russia’s negligent approach to nuclear safety and militarization of civilian infrastructure thus demands a firm response.

As Mr. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, has repeatedly stated throughout the NPT Review Conference “virtually all 7 indispensable nuclear safety & security pillars have been breached” in the Zaporizhzhia Power Plant since the invasion. Previously, the IAEA has raised similar concerns over Russia’s military operations around Chernobyl.

Russia has repeatedly alleged that the incidents at the Zaporizhzhia NPP occur, because the Ukrainians are not allowing Russia to maintain the Plant properly. Let us be clear, Russia was neither requested nor invited to take care of the Zaporizhzhia Power Plant – it was illegally occupied and militarized by Russia. Ukraine is well equipped and competent to operate its own power plants. It is the Russian forces who prevent Ukraine from fulfilling their nuclear and radiation safety obligations in accordance with international conventions and IAEA safety standards.

We demand Russia to immediately cease its military actions, withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine and allow the competent Ukrainian authorities to regain control over its nuclear facilities and infrastructure. We also encourage the UN and the IAEA to take an active role in assisting Ukraine to ensure safe and secure operations of the nuclear facilities.

It is vital to further stress the need for an IAEA-led international mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. However, above all, such mission should strictly comply with the national legislation of Ukraine and with full respect to its international obligations.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and militarization of its nuclear facilities points to the urgent need for the international community to develop legally binding rules and ensure that no other country would ever use nuclear facilities in warfare again.

In conclusion, let us be reminded that nuclear disasters and the spread of radiation does not have borders – a nuclear catastrophe in Zaporizhzhia would affect the rest of Europe just as much as it would affect Ukraine for decades to come.

We must act now.