Greenpeace Urges EU Sanctions on Rosatom and Deploys Radiation Sensors in Ukraine for Nuclear Preparedness

Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, in collaboration with Greenpeace Germany and the Ukrainian environmental organization SaveDnipro, have installed radiation sensors near nuclear facilities in Ukraine to provide crucial information about radiation levels in the event of a significant nuclear contamination in Ukraine.

Following visits to Chornobyl, as well as to frontline regions in southern Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, Greenpeace and SaveDnipro installed sensors in schools, hospitals, and nuclear facilities aimed at early warning of increased gamma radiation in the event of another nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine. With the consent of local authorities responsible for planning nuclear emergencies, sensors have been placed in Zaporizhzhia, Yuzhnoukrainsk, Odesa, Tarutyne, Yuzhne, and Uman.

Real-time data collected by the sensors will be transmitted to an online map called SaveEcoBot.

The equipment provided by Greenpeace and SaveDnipro, along with recommendations for emergency radiation situations, supports the efforts of local authorities and emergency services, providing an additional level of protection for the local population.

"Our radiation sensors cannot stop radiation, but they can provide vital information that can save lives in the event of an intentional nuclear disaster. Listening to the voices of local authorities and politicians in southern Ukraine and considering their efforts, Greenpeace is deeply committed to supporting the Ukrainian population. Working hand in hand with local authorities and organizations, we strengthen our ability to jointly monitor the risks of a nuclear disaster and respond to them," said Jan Van de Putte, radiation expert at Greenpeace Belgium and Greenpeace East Asia.

In turn, Sean Burnie, a nuclear specialist with Greenpeace East Asia, emphasized that as winter approaches, the risk of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine increases every day.

"It is outrageous that some EU countries still perceive Rosatom as a respectable business partner rather than a criminal nuclear blackmailer. The time has long passed for comprehensive sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry, Rosatom. European corporations like Framatome and Siemens, as well as governments with deep commercial ties to Rosatom, such as France and Hungary, directly fuel the Russian war against Ukraine and its people. Sanctions are needed to halt nuclear trade with Russia," Burnie emphasized.

Demands for sanctions against Rosatom, supported by the Ukrainian government and five EU governments, have consistently been blocked by EU governments with ties to the nuclear industry.

The safety breaches at nuclear power plants in Ukraine and the potential threat of a nuclear catastrophe underscore the need for immediate sanctions. 

The illegal occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant since March 2022 by Rosatom and Russian armed forces has made the station particularly vulnerable to serious damage. 

Emergency response procedures and safety management are no longer functioning, and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors provide very limited information. 

The threat of further destructive actions and environmental war crimes by Russian forces, combined with the constant risk of power loss, jeopardizes the entire region, Ukraine, and potentially neighbouring countries.