Decades after the Chornobyl disaster, Russia has turned the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant into a territory of war, and partner countries must constrain its force for the sake of global security. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this at the Chornobyl International Conference on Nuclear Safety and Recovery.
The Head of State emphasized that the world drew security, political, and moral conclusions from the Chornobyl disaster. However, no one could have expected that decades after the accident, someone would seek to turn Chornobyl and the Exclusion Zone itself into a territory of war.
“The worst thing is that when the Russians came to Chornobyl, it became clear that they had absolutely no understanding of where they had come and what this place was. This is important to understand about today’s Russia – about this state, about what remains of their culture, and about how they treat people, how they treat life as a whole,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President stressed that Russian forces tried to advance on Kyiv through the Chornobyl zone, dug military positions in restricted forests, drove heavy equipment across contaminated land, fired from there, destroyed equipment, and abused Ukrainians working at the plant and associated enterprises.
“Some of our Ukrainian servicemembers, including those from the National Guard of Ukraine who were guarding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, are still, unfortunately, in captivity in Russia. We have already managed to bring many of them back, but unfortunately some are still there, in Russian captivity. We remember them, and we will bring them back,” the Head of State emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the Russians have turned the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant – the largest NPP in Europe – into an instrument of their war.
“They launch attacks from there against our cities and villages, store weapons, ammunition, and military equipment at the plant, mined its perimeter, and are effectively holding our city of Enerhodar hostage. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has already gone through a full blackout fourteen times,” the President said.
According to the Head of State, everyone dealing with Russia must understand that it is a completely irresponsible and, in many ways, reckless force that must be constrained for the sake of global security.
“That is why global sanctions must be strong, resistance to evil must be strong, and support for those defending lives must also be sufficiently strong. The very fact that the Russians even went so far as to strike the confinement structure that covers the remains of the fourth power unit with a drone shows that Russia cannot be a participant in civilized international relations,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
The President thanked all partners who help Ukraine and unite efforts to protect lives.
“Right now, we have many urgent tasks – here in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, particularly the restoration of the confinement structure, and across Ukraine’s energy sector as a whole. We must be prepared for any scenario by next winter, and this requires, in particular, sufficient financing for us, for Ukraine. Whatever the Russians may intend to do – we must be ready,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State noted that the Ukrainian government team will present all necessary requirements and prospects for joint work.
The President also added that sanctions against Russia for this war must be strengthened, and the world must not allow the aggressor to adapt to restrictions. He specifically thanked for the unblocking of the 20th sanctions package of the European Union and expressed gratitude to each country that is strengthening its national sanctions regimes.
“This is a crucial point – that global sanctions should also extend to Russia’s nuclear sector and to all associated legal entities and individuals. We must also speak clearly about the fact that only Ukrainian control, only Ukrainian specialists, and Ukrainian safety protocols can guarantee that there will be no radiation-related risks at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.
