Kyiv, April 26 (ANI): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday signed an agreement with Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy to support reconstruction of the country’s energy sector, which has been heavily damaged since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The signing in Kyiv coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a post on X that Ukraine’s energy sector is “central to the country’s recovery and future.” The agreement, signed with Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, focuses on the energy sector broadly and on nuclear energy specifically — from potential expansion with small modular reactors (SMRs) to rebuilding the grid and substations critical for nuclear safety, as well as support for research and applications.
Grossi noted ongoing humanitarian and technical assistance to Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure, including medical aid. He said the IAEA handed over a fourth ambulance to Ukraine under its Programme for Medical Assistance for Operating Personnel at nuclear power plants. Since the start of the conflict, the IAEA has delivered more than EUR 25 million in equipment and nearly EUR 3 million in medical supplies to all nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the Chornobyl site.
Grossi also took part in the Ukraine Energy Coordination Group event titled “40 years after Chornobyl,” held in Kyiv and attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The agreement aims to help rebuild and secure Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict, with international agencies maintaining on-the-ground support for nuclear safety and operational stability.
On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered a catastrophic failure during a low-power safety test that was improperly conducted. A sudden loss of control led to an explosion and fire that destroyed the reactor building and released large amounts of radioactive material. Neglected safety systems allowed fuel to overheat and breach protective barriers.
In the immediate aftermath, the IAEA provided assistance to the Soviet Union, focusing on environmental cleanup, decommissioning and radioactive waste management, and helped improve safety at the site. The agency led the International Chernobyl Project to assess radiological impacts and protective measures. The IAEA also contributed to developing two international conventions adopted by member states: the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, creating a framework for rapid notification, information sharing and coordinated assistance with the IAEA as coordinator. (ANI)
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