Participants at the International Donor Conference on Chernobyl have reaffirmed their commitment to nuclear safety, environmental protection and international cooperation, as Ukraine marked 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster.
In a joint statement issued in Kyiv on 26 April 2026, delegates honoured the liquidators of the 1986 disaster, recognising their “courage, sacrifice and selfless dedication” in helping to mitigate the consequences of the accident and protect millions of lives.
The participants welcomed recent international initiatives on Chernobyl, including United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/111 on strengthening cooperation to study, mitigate and minimise the consequences of the disaster, adopted on 10 December 2025. They also referred to a report by the UN Secretary-General on the persistent legacy of Chernobyl, as well as a UNESCO decision adopted on 22 April 2026 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
The statement said that, four decades after the disaster, Chernobyl’s legacy remains a global responsibility. It added that this legacy now faces new risks as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Participants expressed serious concern over damage to the New Safe Confinement at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which they said was caused by a Russian drone strike on 14 February 2025. According to the statement, the damage poses serious risks to nuclear safety and the long-term structural integrity of the facility.
They underlined that the timely and comprehensive restoration of the New Safe Confinement is essential to ensure nuclear safety and protect the significant international investments made over several decades.
The statement strongly condemned Russian attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including nuclear-related facilities, and said nuclear safety must never be compromised.
Participants also stressed that all parties to an armed conflict, including an aggressor state, are obliged to comply strictly with international law, including international humanitarian law. They said any actions that damage or destroy nuclear power plants may constitute a serious violation of international nuclear safety standards and international humanitarian law, with the risk of severe, widespread and long-term harm to civilians.
The conference welcomed efforts by Ukraine, in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Union, the G7, the United Nations and other international organisations, to mobilise support for restoring the New Safe Confinement.
Participants said they would continue to explore options for financial contributions, including new or additional support, and encouraged partners to contribute in line with their national procedures and capacities.
The statement also referred to the broader impact of the war on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and nuclear safety, describing both as critical to European security and global stability. It highlighted continuing risks linked to the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Delegates called for stronger joint action to stop what they described as Russia’s nuclear blackmail and to prevent nuclear threats from returning to global politics. They said Russia must be held accountable and that global norms against nuclear intimidation must be upheld.
The participants said they would continue to coordinate through existing international mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of agreed measures and reaffirmed their shared responsibility for the long-term nuclear safety and security of the Chernobyl site.
They also welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Government of Ukraine in Rome on 10 July 2025, on cooperation in support of Ukraine’s reconstruction. The statement described the memorandum as an important framework for cooperation and encouraged its timely implementation, including in the context of preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Poland.
