Open Access Government receives exclusive expert comments from Ukraine as the UK boosts its funding to Ukraine with an additional £750,000 to enhance nuclear safety
This was revealed during the Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Wednesday, June 7th. At the recent meeting, Director General Grossi presented the latest report on the status of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards in Ukraine.
The state of nuclear safety in Ukraine and the need for additional support to protect it
The report provided an overview of the current state of nuclear safety within Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, with a particular focus on the worrisome situation observed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
It was further revealed that one significant concern is the plant’s dependence on water sourced from the Kakhovka dam for its cooling pond.
Sustaining British financing for Ukraine’s Security
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has taken proactive measures by allocating a total of £5 million to support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) endeavours in the country.
Additionally, the UK provides an annual budgetary contribution to sustain the IAEA’s ongoing initiatives.
The recently announced UK funding to Ukraine aims to assist the IAEA in its crucial mission of offering support and guidance to the Ukrainian government in matters of nuclear safety.
Offering support and guidance to the Ukrainian government in matters of nuclear safety
The UK funding to IAEA also plays a vital role in enabling training programs for the detection of radiological materials and facilitating expert investigative missions to nuclear power plants.
UK Ambassador to the IAEA, Corinne Kitsell, strongly condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s civil infrastructure, particularly its illegal control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, highlighting the contradiction between Russia’s claims and its actions regarding nuclear safety.
He also said, “I commend the work of the IAEA’s staff in Ukraine, and I am pleased that the UK’s additional funding will help to facilitate its vital work, particularly given the additional risk posed by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam”.
The report of the IAEA Director General expresses worry over the presence of Russian military forces at the site, as well as the enormous strain on Ukrainian personnel and their families. The UK urges Russia to fully withdraw its soldiers from the area and to stop its illegal assault against Ukraine
It supports Ukraine’s desire for a continuous power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
The IAEA Director General’s report highlights concerns about the presence of Russian military forces and the strain on Ukrainian personnel. The UK calls for Russia’s full withdrawal, an end to the illegal assault on Ukraine, and support for continuous power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
On the ground analysis: British war reporter’s perspective
In an exclusive interview with Open Access Government, Jay Beecher, a British war reporter residing in Ukraine, sheds light on the crucial significance of the UK increasing funding to Ukraine and its people and the nation as a whole.
“Protecting Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, particularly the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia (the biggest in Europe) is crucial not only for the safety of Ukrainian citizens but citizens across the world. While I’ve been here in Ukraine I’ve documented countless war crimes carried out by the Russian invaders who demonstrably have no regard for human life.”
“We’ve seen this not only in attacks on civilians, but also attacks on infrastructure, from electricity plants to gas pipelines – and now this week a catastrophic attack on the dam in Kherson region that has places the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in danger due to its reservoir supplying vital cooling water to the plant’s reactors” He explained.
British support to sustain Ukraine’s energy structure is crucial
Jay Beecher also warned of long-lasting environmental consequences from the attack on the Zaporizhzhia NPP, while the IAEA provides crucial insight into the occupied and mismanaged facility, raising concerns over potential dangers.
“The environmental impact from that attack alone will have serious ramifications for years, perhaps decades, to come. The IAEA are the Western world’s looking glass, giving us the only way of peering inside the Zaporizhzhia NPP, currently being occupied and dangerously mismanaged by Putin’s negligent troops.
Jay Beecher drew attention to concerning findings presented by Ukrainian officials who have recently issued warnings based on intelligence indicating Russia’s ominous intentions. Ultimately, he expressed the importance of the IAEA and it’s work.
Potential nuclear catastrophe looms in Ukraine
“Ukrainian officials here have even recently warned that intelligence shows Russia are planning a false flag operation to partially destroy the nuclear power plant and leak life-threatening radiation across Ukraine. Whether this is true or not, it’s imperative that more funding is provided to enable the IAEA to continue their important work and to expose problems and potential imminent nuclear emergencies at the site.
Beecher also shared his insights into how global leaders impose stronger sanctions on Russia as a response to their ongoing war crimes.
“Also, leaders from across the world must sanction Russia further, financially crippling it for its ongoing war crimes and threats to global peace. But punishment cannot only come in the form of financial sanctions. Clearly, sanctions aren’t the deterrent we’d hoped they’d be. Tougher actions are needed.”
