Russian aggression against Ukraine is fundamentally changing the principles of nuclear safety that have evolved over the 40 years since the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The task of the international community is to consolidate efforts in response to these new challenges and to prevent new accidents or incidents that could permanently undermine confidence in nuclear energy.
This was among the key topics discussed during a thematic event dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, held on 13 May at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
The event was moderated by Boris Ruge, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, who will soon take up the post of German Ambassador to Ukraine. The Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, Aliona Hetmanchuk, representatives of NATO member states, and international partners also took part in the event.
The Ukrainian presentation on the history and current status of the Chornobyl NPP and the surrounding Exclusion Zone – formed as a result of the accident – was delivered by Serhii Tarakanov, Director General of Chornobyl NPP. In his speech, he emphasized that full-scale war is reshaping approaches to assessing nuclear safety and revealing new, even more severe risks. These include the occupation of both the Chornobyl and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plants, as well as armed attacks on nuclear facilities. Russia’s actions have clearly demonstrated how vulnerable the system of international safeguards – built over decades – can be.
After the 26 April 1986 disaster, the international community primarily focused on the technical aspects of nuclear facility operation, as it was assumed that compliance with nuclear and radiation safety standards, equipment reliability, and operational discipline would be the key factors. No one could have imagined that the physical integrity of nuclear facilities themselves could come under threat due to armed aggression. However, it has now become clear that such an unprecedented scenario is indeed possible.
One of the consequences of Russian aggression is a significantly higher risk of large-scale forest fires compared to the period before 2022. Almost daily flights of Russian drones over the Exclusion Zone create a constant threat of ignition in forested areas, which play a vital barrier role in preventing the spread of radionuclides. The situation is further aggravated by global climate change, which leads to droughts and facilitates the spread of fire over large areas. Not only forests but also the Chornobyl NPP itself and other nuclear facilities within the Exclusion Zone may be at risk. Highlighting these challenges, Serhii Tarakanov discussed with NATO representatives the issue of financial support within the framework of the Global Partnership for combating fires in the Exclusion Zone.
“While the event marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster was taking place in Brussels, emergency services in the Exclusion Zone were continuing to extinguish a fire covering more than 1,000 hectares, caused by the crash of two hostile drones. The forest areas that caught fire perform a barrier function and prevent the spread of radionuclides beyond the Exclusion Zone. Any assistance in combating such fires is extremely valuable to us, and we are grateful to our partners for their support,” the Director General of ChNPP commented.
It should be noted that the thematic event at NATO Headquarters was organized in cooperation with the NATO International Secretariat as part of Ukraine’s international program marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. The participation of the Ukrainian delegation was coordinated by the State Exclusion Zone Management Agency.
