International Organizations That Supported Ukraine and Condemned Russia 

The seizure of the Chornobyl NPP, the seizure of the Zaporizhzhya NPP and the satellite city of Energodar, and the shelling of the Neutron Source nuclear facility are examples of russia’s nuclear terrorism against Ukraine and the world. After the russian troops threatened global nuclear safety and security, some organizations condemned russia’s actions, brutally violating the statutes of international nuclear communities, and supported Ukraine. 

On the first day of russia’s large-scale aggression against Ukraine, russia was condemned by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the OECD Council took a number of measures to support the Ukrainian people on the second day. In particular, the OECD Council decided to formally terminate the accession process with russia, close the OECD Moscow office, and stop russia’s participation in all OECD events. No new agreements for voluntary contributions with russia will be concluded, and any projects that were planned to be funded through voluntary contributions from russia will be stopped.   

The IAEA’s Board of Governors convened on 2 March, 2022 where the IAEA Director General outlined seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security to  be maintained in the russian invasion of Ukraine and the occupation of two Ukrainian NPPs (Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhya). However, these pillars cover the main safety and security provisions and cannot be ensured in wartime. In response, the Canadian Nuclear Association, FORATOM, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuclear Industry Association, World Nuclear Association, and World Nuclear Transport Institute issued a joint statement on their readiness to support the IAEA’s efforts to ensure the safety and security of nuclear facilities and staff in Ukraine.   

The Polish Nuclear Society condemned the unprovoked and absolutely unjustifiable russian aggression against independent and democratic Ukraine and issued, at the beginning of March 2022, a declaration that it would terminate any collaboration and would not maintain any official contacts with russian organizations until the hostilities are terminated and those guilty of violating the international law are brought to justice.  

The American Nuclear Society expressed solidarity with Ukraine’s nuclear professionals and the Ukrainian people. In particular, the American Nuclear Society jointly with the Ukrainian Nuclear Society established a fund for humanitarian aid for nuclear workers and their families affected by the large-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.  

At the extraordinary meeting on 6 March, 2022 the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) condemned russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine and urged russia to immediately cease all unlawful activities in order to restore the Ukrainian nuclear regulator’s control over all nuclear facilities and materials within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, in line with internationally recognized safety and security standards.   

On 10 March, 2022 the European Nuclear Society suspended all activities with organizations associated with the authorities of the russian federation and Belarus until the end of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, the corporate membership of rosatom and atomtex in the European Nuclear Society was suspended. The commitment also included refraining from providing expertise or disseminating information under presumptive external interest in the illicit use of this expertise or information.   

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) strongly condemned any military attacks and hostilities on or near nuclear power plants (NPPs) and activities that prevented plant operations. NEI supports the Ukrainian nuclear personnel who continue to safely operate the Ukrainian nuclear facilities and the idea to create safe zones surrounding all NPPs in Ukraine and urges russia to cease military attacks on nuclear facilities.   

The 23 Member States of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) continue to condemn russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine with the involvement of Belarus. At the meeting on 25 March, 2022 the 23 CERN members decided to suspend the participation of CERN scientists in all scientific committees of institutions located in the russian federation and the Republic of Belarus, and vice versa, and suspend or even cancel all events jointly arranged by CERN and institutions located in the russian federation and the Republic of Belarus. They also decided to suspend relations with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), located in the russian town of dubna, and suspend the JINR observer status until further notice.  

In early April 2022, the European Technical Safety Organizations Network (ETSON) decided to suspend cooperation with the russian Scientific and Engineering Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety at an extraordinary meeting of full ETSON members. 

In April 2022, the leadership and members of the West European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) suspended the participation of the russian and Belarus nuclear regulatory bodies in plenary and other WENRA meetings and their participation in routine WENRA activities and work groups until the end of military aggression against Ukraine. In addition, the WENRA leadership continues to express their support to the Ukrainian people and continues cooperation with Ukraine in addressing the technical aspects of nuclear safety.  

Thanks to efforts of the Energy Community, an Energy Support Fund was established for restoration of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure destroyed by the russian war, to be replenished with donations from EU Member States. 

Uatom.org Editorial Board