IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda Item 6: Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine
4 March 2026
Statement by Mr Mat Fox, Alternate Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia welcomes the Director General’s report on nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.
Australia is appalled by continued Russian strikes on civilian areas and critical energy infrastructure.
This is why on 23 January, Australia announced a further A$10 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing our total contribution to the Fund to A$40 million. This will enable Ukraine to replace equipment damaged by Russia and make urgent repairs to its critical energy infrastructure, helping restore electricity and heating supply to Ukrainian families.
The impact of Russia’s systematic strikes on the safety of Ukrainian nuclear power plants are particularly alarming, demonstrate an unmistakable pattern of escalation and are incompatible with Russia’s stated commitment to uphold nuclear safety and security.
The DG’s latest report (GOV/2026/7) indicates that attacks over past months have reduced the reliability of external power for Ukraine’s operating NPPs as well as Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Every operating Ukrainian NPP has been forced to reduce power output and disconnect from the grid on numerous occasions in recent months. Both Zaporizhzhia and Chornobyl have also suffered Loss of Offsite Power events.
As Director-General Grossi has said, ‘[t]he strikes on Ukraine’s electrical grid appear coordinated to maximise disruption’ and ‘[a] deterioration of Ukraine’s power grid from persistent military activity has direct implications on the nuclear safety of its nuclear facilities.’ These risks would not exist if Russia had not illegally invaded Ukraine in a flagrant violation of international law. Australia commends the ongoing efforts of the IAEA to assess the condition of Ukraine’s critical substations and their implications for nuclear safety at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, as mandated by the Board of Governors in Resolution GOV/2024/73 and the General Conference in Resolution GC(69)/RES/14. These substations are essential for supplying electricity needed for reactor cooling systems and other key nuclear safety functions. The IAEA’s presence has also been critical in helping to stabilise the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and in providing an independent, impartial source of reporting to the international community.
We reaffirm our full support for the IAEA’s commitment to Ukraine, including the Board’s resolutions on Ukraine and its continued condemnation of Russia’s failure to comply with these resolutions.
We reiterate that the most effective protection for Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure involves an immediate and complete withdrawal of Russian military personnel from Ukraine and the return of all nuclear facilities to Ukrainian control.
We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately end its illegal war and adhere fully to its obligations under international law, cease attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population and critical energy infrastructure, and uphold the nuclear safety principles of this Board.
With these comments, we note the Director General’s report and request it be made public.
Thank you Chair.