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Articles

Nuclear safety: a global challenge in the context of the war in Ukraine

Pages 321-333 | Received 23 Jun 2022, Accepted 01 Nov 2022, Published online: 02 Dec 2022
 

Abstract

The war in Ukraine has challenged the nuclear safety of Ukraine, Europe and the world. This article examines the problems of nuclear safety in Ukraine and outlines some solutions to this ongoing crisis, as well as improvements to international norms where required. In addressing these issues, there is a critical need to revise the existing standards of nuclear safety to prevent nuclear terrorism, create and authorise a special United Nations (UN) Commission to mediate between the warring parties, and hold an international summit on nuclear security to oversee the fulfilment of obligations by member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 The Nuclear Security Summit 2016, ‘History’<www.nss2016.org/> accessed 15 June 2022

2 The Ukrainian Assembly of Energy, ‘The Electric Power Industry: Electricity Generation in Ukraine in 2021’ <https://vse.energy/news/pek-news/electro/1935-power-generation-202112> accessed 15 June 2022

3 The Cabinet Ministry of Ukraine, ‘The Ukraine Low Carbon Development Strategy 2050’ <https://mepr.gov.ua/files/docs/Proekt/LEDS_ua_last.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

4 The Neutron Source Facility ‘Source of Neutrons’ of the National Science Center ‘Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology’, ‘Destination’, <www.kipt.kharkov.ua/kipt_sites/NeutronSource/neut_source.html> accessed 15 June 2022

5 ‘The Constitution of Ukraine 28.06.1996 № 254k/96-VR’ <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/254%D0%BA/96-%D0%B2%D1%80#Text> accessed 15 June 2022

6 Order of Cabinet Ministry of Ukraine 04.08.2021 no. 907-r ‘On Approval of the Energy Security Strategy’ <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/907-2021-%D1%80#Text> accessed 15 June 2022

7 IAEA, ‘The Agreement between Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons’ <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/publications/documents/infcircs/1998/infcirc550.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

8 The Cabinet Ministry of Ukraine, ‘On Approval of the Regulation on the State Inspection of Nuclear Regulation of Ukraine’. Resolution 20.08.2014, no. 363 <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/363-2014-%D0%BF#Text> accessed 15 June 2022

9 The Cabinet Ministry of Ukraine, ‘On approval of the Regulation of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management’, Resolution 22.10.2014, no. 564 <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/564-2014-%D0%BF#Text> accessed 15 June 2022

10 The Cabinet Ministry of Ukraine, ‘On the Creation of the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom’, Resolution 17.10.1996, no. 1268 <https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1268-96-%D0%BF#Text > accessed 15 June 2022

11 The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, ‘OPERATING NPPS’ <www.uatom.org/zagalni-vidomosti> accessed 15 June 2022

12 The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, ‘On the Situation at the Chornobyl NPP and the State of Safety of other Nuclear Facilities’ <https://snriu.gov.ua/news/pro-situaciyu-na-chornobilskij-aes-ta-stan-bezpeki-inshih-yadernih-ustanovkah> accessed 15 June 2022

13 The State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, ‘About Us’, <https://rosatom.ru/en/index.html> accessed 15 June 2022

14 ‘Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949’, <www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/icrc_002_0321.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

15 The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, ‘Appeal to the World Community of the Board of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine’ <https://snriu.gov.ua/en/news/appeal-world-community-board-state-nuclear-regulatory-inspectorate-ukraine> accessed 15 June 2022

16 ‘EBRD Puts Cost of Russian Occupation of Chernobyl at eur100 Million’ (World Nuclear News, 19 May 2022) <www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/EBRD-puts-cost-of-Russian-occupation-of-Chernobyl> accessed 15 June 2022

17 The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, ‘Zaporizhzhia NPP’ <www.uatom.org/en/general-information/zaporizhzhya-npp> accessed 15 June 2022

18 See the Statute of the IAEA <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/statute.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

19 IAEA, ‘Safety Standards’ <www.iaea.org/resources/safety-standards/search> accessed 15 June 2022

20 IAEA, ‘External Events Excluding Earthquakes in the Design of Nuclear Power Plants. SAFETY GUIDE No. NS-G-1.5’ <www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1159_web.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

21 IAEA, ‘Nuclear Security Plan 2022–2025’ <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/gc/gc65-24.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

22 See the Statute of the IAEA, <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/statute.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

23 See the list of Member States of IAEA <www.iaea.org/about/governance/list-of-member-states> accessed 15 June 2022

24 See the Statute of the IAEA, <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/statute.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

25 Ibid

26 IAEA, ‘Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference Fifty-Third Regular Session 14–18 September 2009’ <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/gc/gc53resdec-2009_en.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

27 ‘The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS)’ <www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-safety-conventions/convention-nuclear-safety> accessed 15 June 2022

28 IAEA, ‘Resolutions and Other Decisions of the General Conference Sixty-Fourth Regular Session 21–25 September 2020’ <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/gc/gc64-res-dec2020.pdf> accessed 15 October 2022

29 IAEA, ‘Statement by the IAEA Director General on Nuclear Safety and Security in Ukraine’ <www.iaea.org/newscenter/statements/statement-by-the-iaea-director-general-on-nuclear-safety-and-security-in-ukraine> accessed 15 October 2022; IAEA, ‘IAEA Director General Grossi’s Initiative to Travel to Ukraine’ <www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-director-general-grossis-initiative-to-travel-to-ukraine#:~:text=IAEA%20Director%20General%20Rafael%20Mariano,the%20conflict%20in%20the%20country> accessed 15 June 2022

30 ‘The IAEA Developed a Detailed Technical Plan to Support Ukraine’ <www.uatom.org/2022/05/02/magate-rozrobilo-detalnij-tehnichnij-plan-nadannya-dopomogi-ukrayini.html> accessed 15 June 2022

31 ‘Nuclear Safety, Security And Safeguards In Ukraine: 2nd Summary Report by the Director General 28 April–5 September 2022’ <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/22/09/ukraine-2ndsummaryreport_sept2022.pdf> accessed 15 October 2022

32 The General Assembly of United Nations, Resolution A/RES/1686 (XVI), ‘Future Work in the Field of the Codification and Progressive Development of International Law’ <www.worldlii.org/int/other/UNGA/1961/81.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

33 The IAEA, ‘The Safety, Security and Safeguards Implications of the Situation in Ukraine’ Resolution of 3 March 2022, GOV/2022/17 <www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/22/03/gov2022-17.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

34 IAEA, ‘Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy’ <www.iaea.org/ru/o-nas/rukovoditel-departamenta-yadernoy-energii> accessed 15 June 2022

35 See the UN Charter <www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter> accessed 15 June 2022

36 See the United Nations Security Council, ‘Security Council Presidency’ <www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/presidency> accessed 15 June 2022

37 United Nations Security Council, ‘Security Council Fails to Adopt Resolution Tightening Sanctions Regime in Democratic People’s of Korea, as Two Members Wield Veto’ <www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14911.doc.htm> accessed 15 June 2022

38 See the Resolution of UN Security Council No. 2623, ‘On Convening an Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly on Ukraine' <https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3958818> accessed 15 June 2022

39 See United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission <www.un.org/depts/unmovic/> accessed 15 October 2022

40 See the Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, with Commentaries <https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/commentaries/9_6_2001.pdf> accessed 15 June 2022

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Lodz research grant for Ukrainian scientists under ‘The Initiative of Excellence – Research University’ [grant no. 10/IDUB/SNU/2022].

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