UN Resolution Demands Russia to End War and Pushes for Safety in Ukraine’s Nuclear Facilities

On July 11, The UN General Assembly passed a resolution titled “Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.” The resolution calls for ensuring the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, demanding an immediate stop to attacks targeting Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.

The vote resulted in 99 countries supporting the resolution, with 9 opposing it (Belarus, Burundi, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria). Additionally, 60 member states abstained from voting.

The resolution demands that Russia “urgently withdraw” its military and other unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and “immediately return” the plant to full Ukrainian control — to ensure its safety and security.

“[The Assembly] calls upon the Russian Federation, until it returns the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant…to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Support and Assistance Mission to Zaporizhzhia with timely and full access to all areas at the plant that are important for nuclear safety and security in order to allow the Agency to report fully on the nuclear safety and security situation at the site,” according to the resolution.

In his Twitter (X), Volodymyr Zelenskyy called such a step “important for restoring respect for the UN Charter and international law.”

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative, highlighted the dire situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He condemned Russia’s intentional inclusion of the facility within its military strategy, emphasizing the potential for a catastrophic incident with far-reaching consequences.

“Radiation doesn’t respect borders,” Kyslytsya warned. Radioactive fallout, he explained, can travel vast distances, affecting regions far beyond the immediate vicinity of the plant.

The Ambassador expressed full support for the draft resolution, which aligns with the IAEA mandate and emphasized the importance of their seven key principles for nuclear safety and security.

Kyslytsya concluded by urging all nations to vote in favor of the resolution. “For the sake of future generations,” he stressed, “we have a responsibility to prevent the horrors of nuclear disasters from ever happening again.”

Previously, on June 4, the IAEA raised serious safety concerns regarding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) currently under Russian control.