IAEA Director General: “You can count on us”

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has been visiting Ukraine for a two-day trip 26-27 April. He attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition Chornobyl. Journey, held a speech facing KPI students and visited the Cornobyl NPP.

Rafael Grossi met resident Volodymyr Zelensky together with whom he presented the exhibition Chornobyl. Journey, arranged by the Ministry of Culture and Informational Policy at VDNG premices.

“We solemnly remember those who died; we stand with those whose lives have been affected; and we recognize the recovery efforts led by the Governments of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” Mr Grossi stated. “The IAEA, together with other international organizations and nations, has worked tirelessly: offering emergency assistance; analysing the accident’s human and environmental impact; helping to manage the contamination, nuclear waste and wreckage, and restoring livelihoods that depend on the health of farms, forests and water sources in the area. You can count on us also to keep expanding and updating the international channels of collaboration on nuclear safety for the benefit of all.”

Mr Grossi reiterated to President Zelensky that the IAEA will continue to support Ukraine in addressing decommissioning, radioactive waste and environmental remediation in and around Chornobyl – as well as in areas in the peaceful use of nuclear technology in general, from sharing best practices in nuclear power plant management to the safe use of radiation in cancer care. 

Mr Grossi emphasized the value of ZODIAC, a major initiative to prevent future outbreaks of diseases that spread from animals to humans, and recognized Ukraine’s National Scientific Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine as a ZODIAC focal point.

Rafael Grossia also met Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and discussed with them safeguards, nuclear safety, human health and the COVID-19 pandemic. He reminded, that the IAEA is providing Ukraine a PCR/diagnostic kit and two mobile medical diagnostic X-ray units.

Visiting Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Rafael Grossi delivered a lecture on nuclear security before the master’s students.

Having speech at the foot of the New Safe Confinement (NSC) Mr Grossi stated: “Behind us is a piece of history; history of Ukraine and, of course, to a big extent, of all humanity. But also it is a sign of how a big challenge, like this [the accident at ChNPP and its consequences – ed.], can be tackled and can be dealt in an appropriate way.”

For today the attendance of Mr. Grossi in the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA) Assembly of Contributors is planned.

Since 2005, Ukraine has received more than €9 million in IAEA assistance. The Agency has supported 77 fellows and 228 scientific visitors from Ukraine for trainings, while 47 Ukrainians have also served as lecturers in the technical cooperation programme.

According to IAEA, SSE ChNPP Press Service.