In connection with media speculation about the possible transfer of the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant to Ukraine or the establishment of some form of “joint control” over the plant with Ukraine, the United States of America or representatives of international organizations, we should like to clarify the following.

The Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant is a Russian nuclear facility. As a result of the referendums held at the end of September 2022, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, Kherson Oblast and Zaporozhye Oblast became fully-fledged constituent entities of the Russian Federation. On 5 October 2022, the President of the Russian Federation signed Decree No. 711 on specific legal provisions governing nuclear energy use in Zaporozhye Oblast, establishing the status of the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant as a facility under Russian jurisdiction.

The return of the plant to the Russian nuclear industry is a long-established fact that the international community has no choice but to recognize. Transfer of the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant itself or control over it to Ukraine or any other country is impossible.

All employees of the plant are citizens of the Russian Federation and their lives cannot be played with, especially given the atrocities that the Ukrainians have committed, and continue to commit, in our country.

Joint operation of the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant with any State is also inadmissible. There are no such precedents in global practice. In this case, for example, nuclear safety and security cannot be properly ensured or civil liability for nuclear damage regulated. An important aspect is that close cooperation between Ukraine and the intelligence agencies of countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which have impressive sabotage potential, makes even the temporary admission of representatives of these States to the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant impossible.

The idea of any international organizations participating in the operation of the plant also seems absurd, since neither the mandate nor the competence of any of them allows them to participate in the operation of nuclear facilities.

Under international law, including key relevant conventions, States themselves have the primary responsibility for ensuring nuclear safety and security in their territories. In the case of the Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant, this means the Russian Federation and in no other way.