Kyiv, April 26 — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy signed an agreement in Kyiv to support the reconstruction of Ukraine’s heavily damaged energy sector. The ceremony coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Ukraine’s energy sector is vital to the country’s recovery and future. The pact, signed with Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, addresses the energy sector broadly and targets nuclear energy specifically. Areas of focus include possible deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), restoration of the power grid and substations crucial for nuclear safety, and support for research and practical applications.
Grossi highlighted ongoing humanitarian and technical assistance to Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure, including medical support. The IAEA handed over a fourth ambulance under its Programme for Medical Assistance for Operating Personnel at nuclear power plants. Since the conflict began in 2022, the agency has delivered more than EUR 25 million in equipment and nearly EUR 3 million in medical supplies to nuclear facilities across Ukraine, including the Chornobyl site.
Grossi also participated in the Ukraine Energy Coordination Group event titled ’40 years after Chornobyl,’ held in Kyiv and attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The new agreement aims to help rebuild and secure Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing hostilities, with international organizations maintaining on-the-ground support to ensure nuclear safety and operational stability.
Background: On April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant experienced 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 quantities of radioactive material. Failures in safety systems allowed fuel to overheat and breach protective barriers.
In the aftermath, the IAEA provided assistance to the then-Soviet authorities, concentrating on environmental cleanup, decommissioning and radioactive waste management, and measures to improve safety at the site. The agency led the International Chernobyl Project to evaluate radiological impacts and recommend protective actions. The IAEA also helped develop 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. Those agreements established mechanisms for rapid notification, information sharing and coordinated assistance, with the IAEA serving as a central coordinator.
