IAEA does not find evidence of ‘dirty bombs’ in Ukraine and calls upon Russia to withdraw troops from Zaporizhzhia NPP

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has adopted a resolution stating that its experts had found no materials related to the development of “dirty bombs” in Ukraine. The resolution was adopted on 17 November. 

“Welcoming the Director General’s assessment that the Agency has found no indications of undeclared nuclear activities or materials related to the development of radiological dispersal devices (“dirty bombs”) at three locations in Ukraine, following complementary accesses conducted at the request of Ukraine,” the document reads.

At the same time, IAEA calls upon Russia to “immediately cease all actions against and at nuclear facilities in Ukraine”, withdraw its “military and other personnel” from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plan (NPP), and “abandon its baseless claims of ownership” of the plant. The agency also asks that “competent Ukrainian authorities” be allowed to “regain full control of the plant to ensure its safe and secure operation”.

The resolution was supported by 24 out of 35 countries, Russian news agency Interfax reports; Russia and China voted against it. Vietnam, India, Kenya, Namibia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa abstained.

IAEA previously reported the results of its inspections in Ukraine following Russian claims that Kyiv had been planning a “provocation” involving a “dirty bomb”.

Back then, the agency said that its experts had inspected three Ukrainian facilities — the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv, Eastern Mining and Processing Plant in Zhovti Kody, and Production Association Pivdennyi Machine-Building Plant in Dnipro — and did not find any evidence of undeclared nuclear activities.

The inspections were conducted after Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had called his counterparts in four NATO countries and told each about Ukraine’s potential use of a “dirty bomb”.