Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Bart Eide visited the Rivne nuclear power plant to express support for Ukraine’s efforts to ensure nuclear safety. About this informs Norwegian government.
Eide emphasized that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure can pose a serious threat to nuclear security even in cases where nuclear power plants are not directly hit. He noted that any threat to the nuclear security of Ukraine and the whole of Europe is unacceptable.
The minister also recalled the long history of cooperation between Ukraine and Norway in the field of nuclear safety, which began after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986. The partnership continued to expand after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and military operations in eastern Ukraine. With the start of a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, Norway has significantly increased its support. In March 2022, the Rivne NPP received the necessary spare parts for uninterrupted operation thanks to the help of Norway.
“We also supported cyber security measures at the Rivne NPP and provided equipment to ensure rapid start-up of reactors after automatic shutdown due to unstable power supply”, – noted Eide.
The minister expressed particular concern over the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP, which is under the control of the Russian military, and emphasized the danger posed by Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure for Europe’s nuclear security.
Together with the minister, Per Strand, director general of the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Agency (DSA), also arrived at the Rivne NPP. He confirmed that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid pose a direct threat to nuclear security in the entire region.
Recently, on the night of September 25, a flight of a Russian attack drone was recorded near the Rivne NPP at a low altitude. In this regard, Energoatom warned of a serious threat to nuclear safety and called for an end to Russia’s energy terror.
